No penalty for unsafe car
Alonso successfully protests and overtakes Vettel
10/28/2022, 10:15 am
Formula 1 has already arrived in Mexico, but only now is the result of the US Grand Prix official. Alpine successfully defends against Fernando Alonso being transferred back. The problem that led Mick Schumacher’s Haas team to object remains.
After a notable back-and-forth, the Formula 1 racing team Alpine finally succeeded in protesting Fernando Alonso’s punitive transfer at the US Grand Prix. The two-time world champion remains seventh in the race in Austin, Texas, just like he did immediately after crossing the finish line last Sunday. After Alpine’s protest in Mexico City was initially dismissed by the stewards, the French team’s objection went one higher.
Alonso was given a 30-second penalty after a complaint from Mick Schumacher’s Haas team in Austin. He had dropped from seventh place in the points to 15th. After the appeal, Mick Schumacher moved up one place to 14th, his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen was eighth in the points. Sebastian Vettel was subsequently happy about seventh place in the Aston Martin.
In the second decision, however, the race stewards came to the conclusion that Haas’ protest had not been submitted within the permitted period. New evidence made it possible to reassess the situation in the first place. Haas had accused Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who was later acquitted, and Alonso of driving unsafe cars after they were damaged in the race.
According to Haas, Alonso had driven for too long with a broken right outside mirror. It broke in a spectacular crash with Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin. Alonso drove up at high speed and took off with the front of the car. During the subsequent pit stop, only the front wing had been replaced, and the exterior mirror later broke off.
The criticism is also based on the fact that Haas has already been warned several times this season because of damaged cars and was therefore obliged to pit stops – while such warnings were not given in Texas despite sufficient time. At Perez, the damaged part of the front wing only came off five laps later, Alonso drove even longer with the wobbling mirror. Without the race management reacting and although the Haas team had pointed this out several times. The lack of reaction to the damaged cars, especially in contrast to previous races, remains despite the Haas protest that has now been rejected.