Fernando Alonso met with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the Miami GP weekend to discuss inconsistency in race penalties. Alonso, a well-known Formula 1 driver, has been vocal about his concerns regarding alleged bias in penalty decisions. He believes that drivers of certain nationalities are unfairly penalized while others are overlooked. Alonso had previously criticized the sport for this issue, but has since changed his opinion about Ben Sulayem and his leadership.
Alonso himself has been penalized twice for on-track incidents, but noticed that another driver who made a similar mistake was not penalized. He believes that this driver was not penalized because he is not Spanish, hinting at potential bias based on nationality. Alonso shared his thoughts with Ben Sulayem during their conversation.
During the meeting, Alonso praised Ben Sulayem, stating that the FIA president is always open to drivers’ opinions. He believes that Ben Sulayem understands the drivers and their insights into what the sport needs. Alonso also mentioned that the drivers on the grid have suggestions to improve the sport, and Ben Sulayem is aware of this.
Alonso emphasized that Formula 1 needs to address various points to improve as a sport. He agrees that Ben Sulayem listens to the drivers’ suggestions and believes that implementing more consistent penalties for drivers would enhance the overall quality of the sport. Alonso also expressed concern about the perception of bias towards certain drivers, stating that this is detrimental to Formula 1.
Aston Martin, the team for which Alonso races, supports his comments on the bias in penalties. The team director, Mike Krack, believes there are two factors contributing to the current situation. Firstly, he believes consistent judgments are crucial. Secondly, he mentioned that new guidelines are being introduced this season, but sometimes hinder the drivers’ performance due to strict adherence.
Krack pointed out that the interpretation of penalties can vary depending on which side you are on and emphasized the need for consistency from the FIA. He urged all involved to review the guidelines and start from scratch.
Formula 1 is constantly striving to improve the sport as a whole, and therefore authorities will need to thoroughly investigate the issue to identify its root cause. The sport has made progress in terms of inclusion and will certainly address these concerns.
