Calmer Fernando Alonso clears Sebastian Vettel over 'frustrating" qualifying block

Alonso, Alpine, France — Photo: © LAT Images

Austrian Grand Prix

Calmer Alonso clears Vettel over 'frustrating" qualifying block

Vettel impeded Alonso on a qualifying hot lap at the Red Bull Ring

Ian Parkes

Saturday 3 July 2021 18:50

Fernando Alonso has cleared fellow F1 champion Sebastian Vettel of any wrongdoing after understanding the true nature of their incident in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Approaching the end of his second flying lap in Q2 in his Alpine, Alonso came across a slow Sebastian Vettel through turns nine and 10 and was forced to abort.

Alonso then pulled alongside Aston Martin driver Vettel on the start-finish straight and shook his fist furiously at the German.

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Addressing the matter after being in receipt of all the information, Alonso said: "On the Seb [incident] itself. I don't think that it was his fault.

"When we are driving in turns nine and 10, you rely completely on your engineers and on the radio, and he didn't have a free track in front of him. He had a car one second in front of him, and he could not vanish, disappear.

"That's the way it is. The nature of the circuit and the way the people were slowing down in turns nine and 10, which are written in the notes of the grand prix that you cannot do it, is the biggest topic.

"I guess they will not penalise 10 or 12 cars, which is the only thing that can change our weekend. It's an unfortunate situation."

Alonso calls on FIA to "police" better

Alonso felt qualifying fourth or fifth was possible but will instead start a lowly 14th, a position he claims is "impossible to repair".

The 39-year-old, however, stands by his earlier remark the FIA should dish out "harsh" penalties for blocking.

"It is an unlucky moment of the weekend," added Alonso. "We will try to learn from here if we can. I'm sure the FIA will have to learn as well and police this a little better.

"In the top category of motorsport, you cannot see in turns nine and 10, 10 cars waiting to start their lap at five kph. That has to be managed a bit better.

"And [also] be harsh with penalties. This is a consequence of being too soft on penalties. In practice on Friday I couldn't make any lap with [Kimi] Raikkonen in the last corner and one of the AlphaTauris. Nothing happened.

"So even in practice we see this problem and there is no policeman on this, so that's sad."