MONTMELO, Spain – two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso clapped FIA on Friday at his home Grand Prix, accusing race stewards of incompetence and saying one of the directors lacked the professionalism for the role.
Two weeks ago the Spaniard was furious in Miami Grand Prix after he was fined at the end of the race, fighting for points. On Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix, Alonso said his alpine team had provided evidence of the cancellation of his fine, but the stewards had already made up their minds and finished the job.
“We think it was very unfair and it was just the incompetence of the stewards – they were not very professional,” Alonso said. “We came after the race with all the evidence … and they were just collecting things. They were not even in the room. We showed them all the details, they said, “Give us five minutes,” and then they found themselves with their hands tied, probably because they had already written a fine and didn’t know how to return the document.
“This is something that should not happen in Formula One, with the professionalism and standards of Formula One.”
Alonso was twice fined in Miami, but Alpine protested against the untimely punishment he was given for leaving the track and taking up position. The team insists he returned the time and had the data to confirm his claim.
Alonso’s criticism comes amid tensions between the FIA’s governing body, the governing body F1, and teams stemming from last season’s final in Abu Dhabi. The championship was controversially won by Max Ferstappen after a series of events initiated by then-race director Michael Mazy.
Massi violated the protocol after a late warning and issued rulings that allowed Ferstappen to win Lewis Hamilton in the championship, winning the race, Hamilton dominated until Massi’s decision. The FIA conducted an off-season review sequences and Massi was fired from the role on the eve of this season.
The Masses have replaced Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, as well as a new remote system that provides additional support to stewards during the race.
Alonso on Friday replied “of course not” when asked if control over racing with change had improved. He also targeted Wittic, who has been the director of racing at every event this season. Freitas is making his debut as director of Formula One racing in Barcelona this weekend.
“You need to have some knowledge of racing before you become a race director or try to control a race,” Alonso said. “And I don’t think that knowledge is in place now. I know there is a new race director here. I think Freitas has a lot more experience with the WEC and with other top-level categories. And I think it will improve. “
Alonso was later seen in a pen on the Barcelona-Catalonia track to talk to FIA President Mohamed bin Sulayem, who was elected a week after last year’s race in Abu Dhabi.
Alonso again faced stewards at Montmelo during Spain’s first Grand Prix training session on Friday. Representatives of the race rebuked the Spaniard for slow movement on the race track, which forced Hamilton to take remedial action.
Whitich has experience as director of racing in DTM, Formula 2 and Formula 3. He has had supporting roles in Formula One racing before his promotion this season. Freitas was the world Endurance Director of Championship Racing and managed GT races and touring cars.
The pilots were in dispute with Wittich for more than a month after the race director issued a ban on wearing jewelry and lingerie that does not meet the requirements while in the car. Hamilton was given up two races to compete with a piercing that, according to the seven-time champion, can only be removed surgically, and he protested against the Miami ban by arriving on the track wearing as much jewelry as he could fit; Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel was wearing a pair of underwear over a fire suit as he walked through the corral in protest.
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https://www.autoblog.com/2022/05/21/f1-alonso-hamilton-vettel-protests/
