F1 World Blasts FIA For Late Fernando Alonso Penalty Costing Him The Podium

F1 fans are not happy with the late FIA decision.

The F1 World has erupted with rage against the FIA for the delayed ten-second penalty handed to Fernando Alonso. 

The Spanish driver had already celebrated on the podium for his third-place finish before finding out he was being given a ten-second penalty for not serving his earlier five-second penalty correctly. 

Alonso had been given a five-second penalty for being misplaced in his grid box at the beginning of the race and served this during a pitstop. However, the Aston Martin team began to jack the car up before the five seconds was up. 

Work did not begin on the car until after the five seconds, but the FIA and stewards count the jack stand as touching the car. 

F1 pundits and fans have been quick to react to the moment, pointing out that the FIA had around 35 laps to give the team the penalty and that it is outrageous to take that long.

Will Buxton wrote to social media:

"There was 60% of the race to review Alonso’s stop and inform of a penalty. And like Ocon in Bahrain a debate as to whether touching the car should be counted as working on the car. Maybe in the case of an in race time penalty, teams can’t leave garage until time served."

There was 60% of the race to review Alonso’s stop and inform of a penalty.

And like Ocon in Bahrain a debate as to whether touching the car should be counted as working on the car.

Maybe in the case of an in race time penalty, teams can’t leave garage until time served.

— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) March 19, 2023

Matt Gallagher posted:

"I'm really not sure how the FIA are figuring out he served the penalty incorrectly after the race is finished? It gives Fernando no chance of pushing harder in the race to potentially beat Russell by 10s..."

I'm really not sure how the FIA are figuring out he served the penalty incorrectly after the race is finished?

It gives Fernando no chance of pushing harder in the race to potentially beat Russell by 10s...

— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) March 19, 2023

Aston Martin have confirmed they are reviewing the footage and will appeal if they feel they can. 

Another Twitter user argued that Alonso did not gain any advantage from the mechanic jacking the car up. They wrote:

"They didn't work on his car for 5 seconds. That should be enough. Mechanic touching the car a little bit didn't give Alonso any advantage."

They didn't work on his car for 5 seconds. That should be enough. Mechanic touching the car a little bit didn't give Alonso any advantage.

— F1 Helmets (@F1HLM) March 19, 2023

F1 fans are clued up and are not afraid to get into the thick of the regulations, another fan claims the stewards have 30 laps to inform the team of any penalties which didn't happen. They wrote:

"The FÍA regulations state that the commissioners have a maximum of 30 laps to notify the pilot of the sanction. Otherwise, it goes unpunished. Alonso stopped in lap 19…"

The FÍA regulations state that the commissioners have a maximum of 30 laps to notify the pilot of the sanction. Otherwise, it goes unpunished.
Alonso stopped in lap 19…

— jodienda (@Cabesita28) March 19, 2023

"They waited ages to let Alonso know that he had another time penalty. Feel crap for him. Mercedes is very negative. Really, they're a top 3 car right now so the serious depression from the team seems a little misplaced. Yes, they're not 1st, but come one guys."

They waited ages to let Alonso know that he had another time penalty. Feel crap for him.

Mercedes is very negative. Really, they're a top 3 car right now so the serious depression from the team seems a little misplaced. Yes, they're not 1st, but come one guys.

2/?

— Alex Harrington (@AlexOnRacing) March 19, 2023