Just reported on Autosport ! World champion Fernando Alonso's chances of fighting for victory at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix have been hit after he received a penalty for his antics in practice. Stewards summoned Alonso and Red Bull's third driver Robert Doornbos after the Spaniard gesticulated at the Dutchman for holding him up during the second practice session. The Renault driver then appeared to slow deliberately in front of his rival. Following the incident, the stewards have penalised Alonso, who will have two seconds added to each of his qualifying times in each part of tomorrow's qualifying. The penalty means Alonso will face a hard time trying to make it past the first two sessions, on a track where overtaking is virtually impossible. The first second of the penalty was awarded for "unnecessary, unacceptable and dangerous" driving, while the second for overtaking under yellow.
i think he'll be put out in the second qualfiying session. its looking to be a good weekend. GO FERRARI!!!
Why it doesn't have anything to do with qualifying or the race after the fact. It hasn't even occured yet!
There are usually 3 spoiler threads for each race. Practice, Qualifying and Race. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115954 I've got the practice recorded but haven't viewed yet.
I swear I was just about to post this up. I saw it happen when I was getting ready for work this morning, I was hoping for a penalty, but not expecting it. Forza!
Agreed, big time spoiler, HOWEVER, I might have skipped practice, so it was also a good heads up, if you can change the title, how about "Important development in practice *spoiler*" As far as Alonso, it's bad, but not cataclysmic. He will choose his fuel load appropriately and come up through the field during pit stops. A podium could still be possible. Despite Hungary's rep, there have been quite a few big charges through the field there in the past. If anything this really just sets the stage for a very interesting race. PS- I haven't seen the incident yet, but in general brake tests suck and Alonso is a jerk for that. Also not very typical of someone who is usually very focused on the championship like he usually is.
Rules are for everyone, If he wants to be World Champion again he needs to act like one and Lead by example.
As far as I'm concerned, this just makes up for MS getting burned at Monaco, a race he would almost certainly have won instead of having to claw his way through the field to finish 5th.
I only wonder how the stewards come up with these kind of penalties. Are there rules for that? For example Schumacher was taken away all his times in Monaco, now this. How does that work? Best, Peter
I had the same thought, we've seen this sort of fist shaking from him alot, but now it might be boiling over.
I'm assuming that its because this occurred during practice while MS stunt occurred at the VERY end of qualifying while a certain someone was on a lap that was looking to beat his time (fastest first and second sector times until he came upon MS which botched his third sector time).
I agree, seems like the stewards make up rules as incidents occur. I have never seen this take place in previous years, I have seen many drivers perform similar acts and receive no punishment. What up with that?
It does appear that the stewards have no real guidelines when it comes to dealing out justice. It seems that they are a less than professional corp that may not be as much into racing as many of us here. I would not be surprised to find a steward waiting tables Monday thru Thursday. Just my opinion. As for the race, it will be interesting to see if FA is the type of champion that can get the job done when the chips are down and the odds are stacked against him. I will have a lot of respect for him if he can fight his way into the points from the back of the grid.
Wait a minute! Isn't the FIA supposed to appeal against the stewards and overule the decision? It's usually how the FIA works....well, maybe not this time. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot...
Why would a cool headed guy like that, regarded as one of the most controlled personalities lose it like that? Its that girl he's been seeing. He should get married and settled and win some more championships....after Schumacher retires!
