Fernando Alonso uses football analogy to help FIA understand turn-one tussles

Fernando Alonso

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Alonso uses football analogy to help FIA understand turn-one tussles

Alpine driver believes rules need to be implemented not changed

Ian Parkes

Friday 29 October 2021 11:39

Fernando Alonso has called on the FIA to implement its rules rather than seeking a clarification despite the inconsistencies that have taken place this year over the track limits at turn one during F1 races.

Following the Austrian Grand Prix initially, the two-time champion described himself as "an idiot" by not following the example of his rivals who breached the regulations relating to the first corner but escaped punishment despite gaining places.

Later in the season, at the Russian GP, Alonso ran through a deliberately designed turn-one escape and despite gaining a position was immediately forced to hand it back.

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During Sunday's United States GP, there were a number of infractions where drivers again ran wide at turn one but went unpunished.

Suggested to the Alpine driver the inconsistency was worse now than at any time in his F1 career and whether a formal document was required to clarify matters, Alonso replied: “No, I don’t think that we need anything."

Using football as an example, he added: "The rule is very clear so we just need to put in place the rule.

"In football, when you take the ball inside the area with a hand, it is a penalty. There is no clarification of the rule.

“You just need to make a decision and say it is a penalty because if it is not, everyone will be inside the area with the ball in his hand.

“So we don’t need any modifications, we just need to implement the rules when it happens.”

Alonso is now waiting to see if there will be intensity in discussions about the turn one incidents at the Circuit of the Americas when F1 returns in Mexico as there was on the Thursday in Turkey following his manoeuvre in Russia.

Asked if the rules were more open to interpretation, Alonso said: “I guess so. It depends on who does it.

“In Sochi, I missed turn one and in Turkey, on Thursday, Sochi turn one was a hot topic.

“In Austin, with not forcing people [through the run-off], there were like three cars in turn one going out by their own decision.

"So let’s see if in Mexico it is a hot topic or is it just all fine because Fernando didn’t make any off-track [excursion].”