Alfa Romeo back 'correct' FIA reset despite 'strange' connotations
Alfa Romeo back 'correct' FIA reset despite 'strange' connotations
Alfa Romeo head of track engineering Xevi Pujolar has backed the FIA's 'correct' decision-making at the end of the Australian Grand Prix despite conceding one aspect to have been 'strange'.
A chaotic red flag restart with two laps remaining at Albert Park saw Fernando Alonso spun off the track by Carlos Sainz and the two Alpine drivers collide, with the latter pair sustaining race-ending damage.
With only one lap remaining, the event was red-flagged for a third time and drivers were instructed to return to the pits.
While the track was cleared, there was confusion as to whether the order of the cars at the time the red flag was shown would remain or whether, as the field had not cleared the first sector at that point, the positions would be reset to those of the previous restart.
When the FIA confirmed the second example to be the answer and that drivers would complete the final tour behind the safety car, Alonso was promoted back from outside the points to third, while Nico Hulkenberg and the two Alfa Romeo drivers lost out.
Given that Hulkenberg would have been classified as third had the order remained unchanged, Haas has now protested the result.
Asked by GPFans if Alfa Romeo would join this action given a total points haul of 10 had been reduced to two by the decision, Pujolar said: “For us, we are happy with the way it is.
"We had a look at it and it is actually, for us, correct in the way that it has been done by the FIA.”
Spirit of the rules questioned
Although happy with the way that the rules were applied, when pressed as to whether the spirit of the regulations is correct given Alonso's ascension back to the top three places, Pujolar added: “I think here we could be discussing this for hours.
"For sure, it is a bit strange when someone is out and then is back up the previous position. But I think we can look at in different ways and this could be an argument or discussion.
“I believe for sure, it will be discussed in the next meetings with the FIA and it is something that then we can agree with the FIA and teams. I haven’t got a strong opinion now.”
READ MORE: Haas lodge protest against Australian GP result
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- 3 hours ago
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 52 minutes ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 1 hour ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's departing genius
- 2 hours ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 2 hours ago
- 2
Talented young F1 prodigy set to make series DEBUT
- Today 16:57
Related news
'Disaster waiting to happen': F1 star demands FIA safety OVERHAUL after terrifying crash
F1 pundit claims Mercedes HARSHLY treated by rivals
Kravitz attacked with CAKE in Ferrari celebrations
Perez makes HUGE Verstappen claim to give rivals title hope
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860