Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League recently penalized Fernando Alonso during Formula 1’s sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. This penalty, which brought him halfway to a race ban, was a result of his violation of the new racing guidelines that he himself had deemed “crucial” at the beginning of 2024.
Alonso received a 10-second time penalty after the Shanghai sprint due to an incident with Carlos Sainz towards the end of the race. The incident occurred when Alonso tried to repass Sainz in the slow Turn 9 left-hander following the Esses. As a result, Alonso collided with Sainz’s Ferrari.
Although Alonso managed to regain his position after Sainz went off-track, both drivers were overtaken by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Shortly after, Alonso had to pit with a puncture, causing him to lose ground.
The stewards, after reviewing the sprint race, determined that Alonso was at fault for the collision. According to the guidelines on driving standards, this infringement warranted a baseline 10-second penalty. The exact details of Alonso’s wrongdoing were not specified in the stewards’ decision.
However, upon analyzing the guidelines, it becomes clear that Alonso’s actions were in violation. The guidelines were updated in 2024 to address concerns about inconsistent decision-making and drivers’ lack of knowledge regarding permissible actions on the track. The FIA Drivers’ Committee, Circuit Commission, and Safety Department collaborated to create the official ‘Driving Standards Guidelines’, which are now applicable to all categories of circuit racing. These guidelines aim to provide a consistent reference for both drivers and officials.
The guidelines include specific instructions for various overtaking maneuvers and situations. In the case of overtaking on the inside of a corner, as Alonso attempted against Sainz, the following conditions must be met: 1) The driver’s front axle must be at least alongside the other car’s mirror by the apex of the corner, 2) The maneuver must be executed in a safe and controlled manner throughout the entry, apex, and exit of the corner, 3) The driver must not force the other car off the track at the exit, ensuring a fair and acceptable width for the overtaken car from the apex to the corner’s exit, and 4) The driver must be able to make the corner within the track limits.
In Alonso’s case, he was initially behind Sainz but managed to position his front axle alongside Sainz’s mirror by braking later and diving inside. Although contact was made, Alonso’s car remained under control. However, his entry speed and trajectory at the apex contributed to the collision. Nonetheless, Alonso successfully completed the corner within the track limits.
The stewards’ decision to penalize Alonso indicates that they believed he was either out of control due to approaching from too far back with excessive speed or that he forced Sainz off the track through contact. While determining whether the act was deliberate is challenging, the guidelines state that leaving a fair and acceptable width for the overtaken car from the apex to the exit of the corner is essential.
Alonso’s 10-second penalty also resulted in three points being added to his license. This is the second time in three events that he has accumulated penalty points, with the automatic ban triggered when a driver reaches 12 penalty points looming.
The decision to penalize Alonso reflects the tendency to assign blame in collisions rather than categorizing them as racing incidents. Although it may be argued that Sainz losing a place and continuing with a damaged car justifies the penalty, officials often make decisions without considering the consequences.
Alonso disagrees with the decision to penalize him but accepts it. He may feel aggrieved that his clash with Sainz warranted punishment while Sainz’s incident with his teammate, Charles Leclerc, did not receive the same treatment.
Interestingly, there was a discussion regarding the type of penalty Alonso should receive. It was agreed in 2024 that the baseline penalty would be increased to 10 seconds from five seconds to address complaints that the previous punishment was insufficient as a deterrent. Therefore, once the stewards determined that Alonso caused a collision, the 10-second penalty was mandatory. However, the fact that Alonso retired from the race in the pits added some complications.
According to the rules, a time penalty imposed after the end of a sprint or grand prix is added to the time of the driver concerned. However, if a driver retires, the penalty can be converted into a grid penalty for the next race they participate in. The term “retirement” is distinct from whether a driver is officially classified, which is determined by completing 90% of the laps completed by the race winner.
In this case, Max Verstappen, the winner of the sprint, completed 19 laps, while Alonso completed 17 laps. The FIA calculates the threshold by determining 90% of the laps completed by the race winner and rounding it down to the nearest whole number. In Alonso’s case, his 17 laps met the threshold, meaning that he was classified despite retiring from the sprint in colloquial terms.
The stewards acknowledged that the regulations’ language regarding when a car is considered retired and the resulting penalties is somewhat unclear, particularly when a car is otherwise classified. They have recommended that the FIA makes the necessary amendments to provide greater clarity on this issue.