The Chinese Grand Prix stewards handed Fernando Alonso a 10-second time penalty for contact with Carlos Sainz Jnr in the sprint race.
The sanction makes no difference to Alonso’s result in the race as he retired from it.Alonso also received three penalty points for the clash, bringing his total to six – halfway to a potential race ban.
It is the second time Alonso has been given three penalty points for an incident in the last three rounds. He was penalised after the Australian Grand Prix for ‘potentially dangerous’ driving before the penultimate lap crash of George Russell.
The incident occured as Alonso and Sainz disputed third place on the 16th lap of 19 in the sprint race. It began when Sainz drew alongside the Aston Martin driver exiting turn six.
As they rounded the sweepers of turns seven and eight, the pair appeared to make contact, with Alonso’s right-front wheel touching the side of the Ferrari in turn seven before Sainz moved ahead of the Aston Martin into turn eight. Alonso dived to the inside of the Ferrari into the next left-hander, turn nine, to reclaim the place.
At this point they appeared to make slight contact again. Both ran wide on the exit, which allowed Sergio Perez to pass the pair of them.
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After Sainz overtook Alonso a second time into turn 11, Alonso was also passed by the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Alonso was then warned by race engineer Chris Cronin that he had a punctured right-front wheel and was instructed to pit at the end of the lap. He did so, but was retired from the sprint race soon after.
“It was a couple of corners parallel to each other and a wheel-to-wheel battle, and, in the end, someone has to give up,” he told Sky. “I gave up in turn eight, the racing line, to avoid the contact. He didn’t give up in turn nine and we didn’t avoid the contact.”
Sainz said he felt Alonso’s move had “cost us both the race” in terms of achieving a strong result.
“Behind Fernando, I think I did a really good move around the outside of turn seven,” said Sainz. “I think from then on, he decided to be a bit all-or-nothing into me into turn nine, which cost us both the race, because I picked up damage and a lot of dirt on my tyres from that optimistic move.”
After investigating the incident, the stewards determined that Alonso was responsible for causing a collision with his lunge into turn nine and handed the Aston Martin driver a ten second time penalty.
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The stewards spoke to the two drivers and “reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence and determined that car 14 [Alonso] caused a collision with car 55 [Sainz] at turn nine.” They also noted that Sainz’s Ferrari was damaged as a result of the contact.
As a result, the stewards handed Alonso a post-race time penalty of 10 seconds, despite the fact that he retired before the conclusion of the race. The stewards pointed out that this formed an unusual situation but that this was the only action they could take under the regulations.
“Article 54.3 of the sporting regulations states if the ten second penalty is imposed after the end of a sprint session, then ten seconds will be added to the elapsed time of the driver concerned,” the stewards explained. “We accordingly added ten seconds to 10 elapsed time of car 14.
“As an aside to the FIA, we note that the language in the regulations as to when a car has retired and the resultant consequences on penalties that may be imposed or served, especially when that car is otherwise classified, is somewhat unclear and we would recommend that the FIA considers making the necessary amendments to bring greater clarity to this issue.”
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2024 Chinese Grand Prix
- Aston Martin petitions FIA to review Alonso’s penalty for Sainz collision
- “You need to be more on it”: 12 unheard radio exchanges from the Chinese GP
- Ricciardo needs to show “head-turning form” for 2025 chance – Horner
- With fourth format change in as many years, F1 relegated sprint races to a sideshow
- Williams accept ‘harsh but correct’ penalty for Sargeant
Bleu (@bleu)
20th April 2024, 7:58
Stewards have been much more harsher on penalty points this year. Last year no incident gave three penalty points, now there are already three (Alonso twice, Magnussen in Jeddah).
This combined with longer season, raises speculation whether we will see first ban due to penalty points this year.
BasCB (@bascb)
20th April 2024, 8:30
they will probably start finding reasons why suddenly a driver getting close to a ban doesn’t get too many points to actually be handed a race ban Bleu
Gusm.ai
20th April 2024, 17:48
I think Gasly spent two seasons on the verge of a race ban.
He collect too many penalty points on the frist races, then he could do almost anything and not get points in the end of the season.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th April 2024, 22:10
Yes, like bascb said, I won’t believe it till I see it, expect them to give progressively less points till 11, then 0.
joe jopling (@jop452)
20th April 2024, 7:59
They were not the Chinese GP stewards, they woukd be the ones they use at every race..apart from a guest driver, if they still use one
But the standards from them are ridiculous, maybe double white lines on corners next so no overtaking(or racing as some of us call it) Alonso is hard to pass, but he could be harder…Stewards go back to checking out rule breakers and leave the racing to the guys on the track
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
20th April 2024, 8:56
Nish Shetty
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Loic Bacquelaine
Zang Honghai
I believe are the stewards.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
20th April 2024, 8:00
That tiny tiny contact is 3 points on his license?? That makes no sense. 25% of the maximum allowed for, lunge or not, contact while battling.
The same as a brake test, in FIAs mind. Utter nonsense.
Penalty points should be given for major infirdgements specially ones that are related to safety. Not this. The time penalty is enough.
earthling (@34rthl1ng)
20th April 2024, 9:35
Well this is Fernando Alonso, for the stewards anything less than beheading is par for the course
Barry
20th April 2024, 15:53
Not really. They couldn’t give a meaningful penalty so they gave the points instead
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
21st April 2024, 2:31
Is the way it works? I thought the three points would still have been awarded even if the 10 seconds had affected the race result.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
20th April 2024, 13:25
As a Ferrari fan I was furious when it happened, because it was completely unnecessary. Red mist taken over. But 3 penalty points? Please…
I’d rather given one (if at all) and a three place grid penalty instead of the 10 seconds (which in this situation is too lenient, but had Alonso finished in P4 would have been way too hard).
Nick T.
20th April 2024, 14:42
To be honest, it seemed like red mist from Sainz. He had tons of room to his right, he gave Alonso no room and then tried to smash FA and his teammate in the next corner. But this is Alonso. I’m surprised they didn’t give him a three-race suspension.
Jockey Ewing
20th April 2024, 17:33
(too lenient + way too hard)/2 = a bit hard
Imo 10 secs are a bit more than a bit hard at a sprint race, as an expectation that equals a drop of multiple or even many positions.
Alonso’s racing was a bit too hard there, but the contact was quite minor, and was potentially dangerous at most, both of them were capable of carrying on driving, instead of the incident triggering a mass incident for example (despite of multiple drivers were in close proximity).
But I was not there to see the telemetry, and the previously built database consisting data of former laps and similar incidents.
In my world it is an 5 seconds penalty at most, but afterall if it was issuad after the race then it used to be doubled indeed.
Meanwhile 3 license points is too much for incidents like this. Stroll had many spatially unaware fairly big crashes into others for 3 points as well.
K (@sugoi)
20th April 2024, 8:41
The minimum penalty has raised from 5 seconds to 10 seconds, to guarantee the penalty has a toll during a race, but no one reviewed what happened with the license points.
The 5 seconds penalty, now deprecated, carried a 1 license point penalty, whereas the 10 seconds penalty meant 3.
To my eyes this should be reviewed and scaled down, given no smaller penalties will be used anymore.
But this would add a one-off to Alonso’s list: https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/17/why-alonso-has-a-point-about-his-career-history-of-one-off-penalties
Depailler
20th April 2024, 8:55
A couple of hours later Carlos Sainz puts himself in the wall, causes a red flag in Q2. But gets no penalty. Sainz has been driving fantastically this year, but think he has been lucky today..
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th April 2024, 8:59
Absolutely outrageous.
We’ve went from “anything goes” to DRS overtakes only in 5 races. What are we doing here? The sprint race was boring until the cars went for overtakes outwith the DRS zone. It was aggressive, but it’s a fair move. What message does.tbis send to drivers in races, nevermind in sprint races. A catalogue of shocking decisions/rulemaking recently.
Hill and Chandhok said “if we penalise this there is no point racing”. What a mess we are in.
Iosif (@afonic)
20th April 2024, 9:19
That was not racing, that was a lounge trying to throw Sainz out of the track that resulted in contact. Alonso is qualifying well with a bad race car and he tries to hold everyone back but this is just not possible in this era.
Honestly, impressed with his speed but he needs to clean up his defending or a race ban is coming.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th April 2024, 9:31
Laughable.
Alonso gave up turn 8 for Sainz, he more than entitled to stick the nose in. Sainz stays in the move as he knows there is a run off that he can abuse. It’s aggressive, it’s on the limit but it’s not over the limit. We’ve developed a new breed of sanitised fans who demand close racing and the want penalties for every move in the braking zone.
Should Lewis have been penalised for forcing Norris off the road in turn one? We have to be clear about why penalties are issues. Careless, reckless, deliberate or out of control driving. Not for a pass that the other driver isn’t expecting.
Yellow Baron
20th April 2024, 15:55
He gave up turn 8 how? They were essentially level and Carlos had the inside for the next corner
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th April 2024, 19:55
Alonso is ahead when the make contact at turn 7 as they turn into 8 and then is clearly behind at turn 8. He realises it’s dirty out there and backs out. He backs out of the late move by Carlos in turn 10 too.
Alonso could have squeezed Carlos to the apex of 8 forcing him to lift and tried to keep it round the outside for the inside at 9. He’s went from level to a car length back – he’s obviously gave up the corner.
Iosif (@afonic)
20th April 2024, 16:40
Did you watch the top down footage? He is clearly behind Sainz and does a lounge trying to force him out of the track. Sainz didn’t yield and there was contact. That’s not racing, that’s ping pong.
They didn’t even question the penalty.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
20th April 2024, 19:52
They didn’t question the penalty as they can’t introduce new evidence and the penalty has no impact other than penalty points.
Alonso is ahead at the entry to turn 9 and makes the corner. Carlos has opened up the corner. There is a valid gap to exploit there and Alonso makes the corner. Carlos chooses to go deep as he squeezes Alonso to the apex and knows he can run wide. Carlos could have opted to give up that corner – he doesn’t as he knows he would lose the position to Perez.
It’s very hard racing and a rude move. It’s not any worse than the move at turn 10 by Carlos on Fernando, which once again, Alonso backs out of to avoid contact. In four corners Alonso has backed out twice, Carlos doesn’t back out of the move at turn 9 and that is where a penalty is awarded.
I think that 10s and penalty points for this is the end of racing as we know it. Why would anyone overtake in a corner if you can shut the door and the other driver get a penalty. It reminds of Norris and Perez in Abu Dhabi – another senseless penalty.
Nick T.
21st April 2024, 4:19
Agreed. 10 years ago, there would not be a single fan or commentator who would think this should even be considered a penalty. I’d have said the same thing if Sainz and Alonso’s positions had been reversed. It seems a lot of fans are viewing this through the lens of either a) Sainz fans b) hate Alonso c) new generation of fans who want the most sanitized product ever.
MichaelN
20th April 2024, 9:41
Good, forcing people off is a big no no, and messing context while doing so makes it even worse.
A desperate move as Sainz rightly notes.
MichaelN
20th April 2024, 9:42
Messing context = making contact. Autocorrect a bit overzealous.
Nick T.
20th April 2024, 14:45
Desperate? He merely put his nose in and Sainz had oodles of room to his right. Sainz did exactly the same thing to FA and CL in the next corner and then ran Charles off the road in the hairpin, which I found fair though.
If we can’t even race that much, what’s the point? Might as well let quali determine the results.
Yellow Baron
20th April 2024, 16:15
Alonso with the delusion saying he gave up turn 8 when it’s him that made contact at turn 8 ,by trying to force his way back ahead max style, by taking more speed into the next corner to get slightly ahead and aiming for the racing line, while carlos is right on that line for the coming corner.
Nick T.
21st April 2024, 4:21
I’ll just copy and paste from above.
MadMax (@madmax)
20th April 2024, 10:05
Alonso being Alonso again, then crying about the consequences…
Yellow Baron
20th April 2024, 16:16
Alonso with the delusion saying he gave up turn 8 when it’s him that made contact at turn 8 ,by trying to force his way back ahead max style, by taking more speed into the next corner to get slightly ahead and aiming for the racing line, while carlos is right on that line for the coming corner.
Sounds like max after getting rightly penalised
Nick T.
21st April 2024, 4:23
First of all, Alonso didn’t cry or bitterly complain after. Second of all, Yellow Barron can’t see through his fandom to be objective. All he sees is his favorite driver not being waved through and probably blames Leclerc getting by on that.
Alonso is ahead at the entry to turn 9 and makes the corner. Carlos has opened up the corner. There is a valid gap to exploit there and Alonso makes the corner. Carlos chooses to go deep as he squeezes Alonso to the apex and knows he can run wide. Carlos could have opted to give up that corner – he doesn’t as he knows he would lose the position to Perez.
It’s very hard racing and a rude move. It’s not any worse than the move at turn 10 by Carlos on Fernando, which once again, Alonso backs out of to avoid contact. In four corners Alonso has backed out twice, Carlos doesn’t back out of the move at turn 9 and that is where a penalty is awarded.
I think that 10s and penalty points for this is the end of racing as we know it. Why would anyone overtake in a corner if you can shut the door and the other driver get a penalty. It reminds of Norris and Perez in Abu Dhabi – another senseless penalty.
10 years ago, there would not be a single fan or commentator who would think this should even be considered a penalty. I’d have said the same thing if Sainz and Alonso’s positions had been reversed. It seems a lot of fans are viewing this through the lens of either a) Sainz fans b) hate Alonso c) new generation of fans who want the most sanitized product ever.
S
20th April 2024, 11:30
I’m still trying to figure how that wasn’t just an act of competitive racing.
Oh right…. There’s no place for that in F1. It freaks people out if there’s anything that even looks like it.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
20th April 2024, 12:16
Only slipstream and DRS overatakes allowed in current F1. And coming in 2026 – push to pass. Forget about defensive driving.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
20th April 2024, 12:26
Push to turn off TV.
I’m a race fan, not an armchair steward.
Nick T.
20th April 2024, 14:48
Only DRS passing and soon not even damp racing.
Harsha Vardhan Maagalam
20th April 2024, 15:05
I dont even know why I am watching this show………….
GmP (@gmp)
20th April 2024, 17:33
Think about it, and then tell us. Or don’t think about it and stay away. Isn’t that the best for everyone?
Alonso, when he runs out of race tricks to keep people behind unfortunately goes into “bad” behavior. To his credit he drives better than the car is, but he can’t seem to accept that at the end the others are faster. I don’t know if it warrants three penalty points, but it should be more than just a time penalty in the race itself.
Harsha Vardhan Maagalam
21st April 2024, 7:55
If you say it’s a bad behaviour, let me get this straight we are watching racing right ?
Tell me the difference between Alonso – Sainz incident and Sainz – Leclerc incident?
Both times one car stick it’s nose and ran the other car off the line and track.
My guess is Fia and fom will comeup with an idea that Drs zones will be converted to Overtake zones
We are reaching that level of amaturing, one contact 10sec penalty and 3 penalty points.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th April 2024, 22:17
I’ll tell you, cause it’s the same for me: I focus only on 1 thing and there’s no way I’d ever watch another sport, BUT this one is really on the decline, I have to say.
Nick T.
21st April 2024, 4:27
Apparently creative and clean re-overtakes (this wasn’t even bumping wheels, just such a light touch it cut Alonso’s tire and did zero damage to Sainz’s wing) now gets referred to the stewards. Sainz had acres of room and still tried to pinch Alonso, but FA gets the referral? Hilarious. This would have never even up for review until the Massi / Wittich era.
Alesici
20th April 2024, 16:14
3 points is an outrage. This reminded me of Alesi’s amazingly opportune re-passing of Senna in his 9th race, in Phoenix. Great racing. The driving standards guidelines say:
Guidelines for overtaking on the inside of a corner:
“In order for a car being overtaken to be required to give sufficient room to an overtaking car, the overtaking car needs to have a significant portion of the car alongside the car being overtaken and the overtaking manoeuvre must be done in a safe and controlled manner, while enabling the car to clearly remain within the limits of the track.
When considering what is a ‘significant portion’ for an overtaking on the inside of a corner, among the various factors that will be looked at by the stewards when exercising their discretion, the stewards will consider if the overtaking car’s front tyres are alongside the other car by no later than the apex of the corner.”
Alonso didn’t lock up or lose control, he not only remained within the limits of the track, in fact he barely even reached any part of the outside kerb exiting the corner. Approaching and hitting the apex, his front tyres were not only alongside Sainz’s car, but their entirety was significantly ahead of Sainz’s helmet.
If you’re being really harsh, you could hand him a penalty, e.g. a grid drop. But 3 points… That’s basically the maximum penalty thrown at any driver since the penalty system was introduced… Ridiculous.
Maybe they need to write a rule specifying that all overtakes must be conducted within the DRS zone, with the overtaking car completely in front of the overtaken car before they reach the corner. Obviously that’s what the stewards and the fans all want. Just like those DRS-assisted overtakes made in the sprint by… Hmm… I can’t remember who did those or when – it *was* several hours ago… But I can still remember Alesi’s move from 34 years ago.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th April 2024, 22:19
To me their battle was great, what wasn’t good was that he forced sainz off track in the end, letting perez by, unnecessary.
He should’ve let sainz go at that point, he was in front and had the racing line.
AlanD
20th April 2024, 20:33
What???? Ridiculous. If people watching the sport cannot objectively see when a foul has occurred and it needs a committee meeting then the rules are wrong, badly wrong. The question is “how are drivers allowed to overtake?” and the only answers nowadays seem to be
1. They press the DRS button
2. Their team mate can wave them through because the pit wall instructed it
3. They can gain places from pit stop undercuts
but woe betide any driver who tries to overtake in a corner or even takes air away from the car behind.
Nick T.
21st April 2024, 4:32
It’s hard to tell if the first part or your post was sarcastic or not. Can you clarify if you thought this was a) a merited penalty, but think F1 is too strict on exactly how you can overtake b) you just thought this was unmerited AND F1 is too strict or c) other.
Mark (@blueruck)
20th April 2024, 22:29
I saw the penalty on Reddit before I saw the race, there must be something the Stewards have that I didn’t see. I agree with many of the others who don’t understand 3 points.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
21st April 2024, 5:08
I am unsure I agree with the penalty, though I am sure I disagree with those that consider Sainz more at fault than Alonso.
However I am beginning to feel that the accrual of penalty points on their own for certain misdeeds would be preferable time/grid penalties. This would essentially allow drivers to take a risk without a direct fear of affecting their immediate finishing position, but still with a long term possibility of punishment for repeat offences.
Of course, severely poor / dangerous driving should still be penalized in the current event. Part of me sees the grey area that would obviously remain between these two levels of penalty, but at the same time, if driving is that bad, then it should earn a black and white flag too, shouldn’t it.