Alonso defends Verstappen and calls on FIA to adjust penalty points system
17:27, 26 Jun
Updated: 18:10, 26 Jun
0 Comments
Co-author:Olly Darcy
Fernando Alonso believes the FIA should adjust the rules around the penalty points system, as stated by the Spaniard after he was asked about the situation Max Verstappen has found himself in.
The Dutchman comes into the Austrian Grand Prix on 11 penalty points, once again just a point away from a race ban. Once again, Verstappen was quizzed on whether he would change anything in his racing, bemused at the question he was asked.
Alonso himself had to switch gears when he was asked on Thursday in Austria about the potential suspension for Verstappen. "It's an FIA press conference," Alonso reminded himself out loud, referring to penalties that could be imposed on him for criticising the FIA.
Alonso Defends Verstappen
''Honestly, I don't think much about these kinds of issues, especially not on a Thursday. We talk about the ride height, the camber, tyres, and all that kind of stuff. The last thing on my mind is the penalty points,'' laughs Alonso in front of GPblog.
"But, to answer your question, I repeat the same thing that I said last year as well. I think the penalty points should be there for dangerous driving and not for driving mistakes, so when you have a mistake and you cross the white line, or when you have a mistake and you go over the speed limiter, because you press the button or you attack the corner too aggressively or something that's a mistake while driving. That should be penalised with a drive-through, it should be penalised with a five-second penalty, all these kinds of things.
Read also
"If you are pushing someone into the grass, or when you are doing different things, that should be a penalty point because it's dangerous driving. But I received the heaviest penalty in the last 25 years, a 20-second penalty and three points for a contactless incident. These kinds of things are not always nice, but we all try to learn and to adjust."
There, Alonso referred to his penalty after the Grand Prix of Australia. At that time, George Russell crashed behind Alonso because the Spaniard had significantly slowed down to surprise Russell. The Brit crashed, and Alonso ultimately received a huge penalty.
Read more about:
Today
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Verstappen astonished by question in Austria: 'You're joking?'
734 times read
2
Kelly Piquet shows off baby daughter Lily's latest gifts in charming Instagram story
625 times read
3
FIA's new public guidelines imply Verstappen was this close to a race ban after Spanish GP collision
561 times read
4
Lindblad's debut set to take place alongside Verstappen during the British Grand Prix
520 times read