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Fernando Alonso has claimed that in his pursuit of a driving standards guidelines review, he has the full support of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Amid escalating concerns over the consistency of penalty decisions in Formula One, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has become a vocal advocate for a review of the driving standards guideline. He wants a fair and transparent system for the drivers and teams alike.
The World Champion’s frustration stems from what he perceives as a lack of consistency in recent penalties imposed by race stewards. His discontent follows incidents during the Australian Grand Prix and the Shanghai Sprint, where he received penalties for on-track clashes.
In Australia, the driver received a 20-second penalty and 3 penalty points for dangerous driving leading to a clash with George Russell. In China, he received a 10-second penalty and another set of 3 penalty points for causing a collision with fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
No Further Action
However, it was the lack of action taken against Lewis Hamilton after the first corner incident during the Miami Sprint that ignited Alonso’s outcry. The stewards were not able to identify one or more drivers – Alonso, fellow Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll, or Hamilton – who were to blame for the incident. No further action was taken.
This has led Alonso to voice concerns about a potential bias, suggesting that Hamilton escaped the punishment because he is not Spanish.
An anti-Spanish agenda is the baseline for Alonso’s belief in the need for impartiality and equitable treatment for all drivers, regardless of nationality.
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FIA President’s Reaction
His discussion with the FIA president during the Miami weekend has given Alonso hope for change regarding the driving guidelines. Alonso said “He has always listened to us. He’s on board with every opinion that drivers have.”
With preliminary talks underway between the FIA and the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), there is an effort to address key issues such as track limits, overtaking, and defensive driving. The aim is to ensure controversial decisions are eliminated from the sport.
Mike Krack, team boss of Aston Martin, backs his driver, stating: “I think everybody wants consistency. Everybody should look over the guidelines, including ourselves, and then we take a fresh start.”
As the FIA works towards finalising the new guidelines, it is hoped they will fall into place for the 2025 season.
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Photo Credit: Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images