‘Some of these penalties have been a bit too extreme’: George Russell insists F1 must apply common sense when applying penalties when visibility is an issue after Fernando Alonso was penalized
- George Russell says F1 needs to apply common sense with penalties
- Fernando Alonso was penalized twice during the Saudi Arabia grant prix
- Race winner Sergio Pérez said that where you position yourself may be down to luck.
Formula One must apply common sense when imposing penalties for offenses where visibility is a real problem for drivers, according to Mercedes driver George Russell.
Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, spoke after Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was handed a five-second penalty for lining up slightly off position on the starting grid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
The Spaniard then received an additional 10-second penalty after the race, overturned at review, when the rear jack touched his stationary car before the five-second penalty had been fully served in the pits.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon received penalties at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix for the same reasons, eventually retiring after a third pitlane speeding penalty.
Drivers have also had their lap times removed in qualifying after the wheels of their cars touched the painted lines at the pit lane entrance and exit.
George Russell says Formula One needs to apply common sense when giving penalties
Fernando Alonso, who finished third in Saudi Arabia, received two penalties
“I feel like some of these sanctions have been too extreme,” Russell told reporters in Jeddah.
“I think a bit of common sense needs to be shown,” added the Briton, who briefly moved up to third before Alonso, Formula One’s most experienced driver with a record 357 starts, was reinstated for a 100th podium finish. of his career.
‘I think he (Alonso) was a bit to the left (at the beginning)… he didn’t gain anything from this. Perhaps a five second (penalty) is too much.
“And then regarding his pit stop… a 10-second (penalty) is too extreme in that case again.”
Russell said there were talks over the weekend and “we all need to come together and find a common ground.”
“We’re sitting very low and to put some perspective we probably only see the top four or five inches of the tire, so you can’t really see the ground,” he said.
I can’t even see the yellow line, let alone the white lines that determine your lateral position. It’s very, very difficult, so I think we need to show a little more common sense in this regard.”
The winner of the race, Sergio Pérez, stated that sometimes where you position yourself is a matter of luck.
Red Bull race winner Sergio Pérez agreed.
“It’s good that there is a rule, but at the same time, sometimes it’s like luck, to be honest, where you position yourself,” said the Mexican.
A spokesman for the governing FIA said that in the case of Alonso’s second penalty there were conflicting precedents about what constituted ‘working on the car’.
He said that would be discussed at a Sporting Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday and clarification would be issued before the next race in Australia.