Incomprehensible that Alonso gets away with a life-threatening move

Fernando Alonso has been handed a 20-second time penalty for his role in George Russell's crash. Here is why it is completely crazy that Alonso was not disqualified and should be glad the stewards did not give him a race ban.

Anyone who saw Russell in the wall at the end of the Australian Grand Prix was immediately reminded of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. Had Russell again asked too much of himself and his car and therefore thrown away points for Mercedes?

Yes, that was my first thought too, but things are a little different. Russell ended up getting too close to Alonso and losing control of his car himself, but Alonso played a very dubious role in that. The fact that Alonso 'gets away' with a twenty-second penalty and still scores points for Aston Martin is therefore incomprehensible.

Why was Alonso given a twenty-second penalty?

Because just after the race, Alonso proclaimed to the media that there was nothing he could do about his slow car. The Spaniard claimed there was a problem with his car's battery. Of course, he had not deliberately braked earlier in order to cause trouble for Russell behind him.

Not much later, however, Alonso told the stewards a different story. Indeed, with all the data in hand, the stewards could see whether Alonso actually had a problem with his battery. It turns out that was not the case. So Alonso is looking for a new explanation: he wanted to try something else to have a better run exiting Turn 6.

In itself, 'trying something else' on the last lap of the race is a remarkable statement for an F1 driver. Halfway through the race okay, but on the last lap? If it's a minor adjustment then, you can still understand, but that was not the case either, according to the FIA's stewards.

Indeed, it states that Alonso got off the gas more than 100 metres(!!!) earlier than he had done in all the laps before. So we are not talking about a few metres, but a distance where even in a normal car on the road getting off the throttle would be noticeable, let alone in an F1 car.

Why Alonso deserved at least a disqualification

Not only did Alonso get off the throttle 100 metres earlier than normal, he also pressed his brakes briefly at the same time. Not hard or long, but at that speed that has quite an impact. The biggest difference, however, was the downshifting. Alonso, for the first time in the race, shifted down a gear entering this corner.

The stewards also see that Alonso showed driving with dangerous behaviour. Nevertheless, they stick to a 20-second time penalty for Alonso, who therefore ends up eighth instead of sixth and still scores points. So the consequences are not very big for Alonso. By comparison, a year ago Carlos Sainz received a five-second penalty from the stewards for a crash that preceded a spin by Alonso, which ultimately did not count for the result. Sainz crossed the line in fourth place, but scored no points due to that (minor) penalty.

Asked why the FIA stuck to a 20-second penalty, they reacted with surprise. Twenty seconds is a big penalty, according to the FIA. Still, one wonders how a driver, who visibly misbehaves like that, can be classified, be credited with points and just be back on the grid the next race.

The big problem in this story, of course, is proof. After all, no one can prove that Alonso did all those actions to make Russell crash. Yet all those actions are proof that Alonso did everything he could to hold up Russell. In a slow corner, you can do that, slow down for a moment on the apex. In a corner at this speed, however, that is life-threatening. That the FIA does not take a tougher line on this is remarkable to say the least.