FIA reveal "double foul" behind controversial Raikkonen-Alonso call
FIA reveal "double foul" behind controversial Raikkonen-Alonso call
FIA race director Michael Masi has conceded Kimi Raikkonen was wrong to pass Fernando Alonso off the track in the United States but a "double foul" stopped the stewards from taking action.
In October's United States Grand Prix, drivers were instructed to hand back positions after completing moves beyond the limits of the Circuit of the Americas track.
The stewards, though, decided not to take action when Alfa Romeo driver Raikkonen made a move on Alpine's Alonso which particularly irked the Spaniard after the race.
Despite Alonso wanting to leave the incident in the past, Masi was keen to discuss to reprise the situation in the pre-Mexico City GP drivers' briefing to draw a line under it and fully explain why no penalty was awarded.
Questioned on the drivers' briefing outcome after the event in Mexico, Masi said: “Having had a very long look at it, together with a discussion with the stewards both following the event and since, there were probably two fouls in that scenario.
"A: Fernando forcing Kimi off track was the first part of it and going wide there.
“The second part was that Kimi shouldn’t have gained and completed the manoeuvre as a result.
"So with the benefit of time, and having a look at it all and everything else, that would have effectively been two fouls - one either way.”
A second element of the Austin track that was brought into sharp focus was the so-called 'sausage' kerbs.
During the weekend, W Series racer Abbie Eaton suffered a spinal compression after running over such a kerb, while US Formula 4 driver Christian Weir fractured a bone in his back.
While the kerbs are used as a deterrent at a number of circuits to prevent drivers from running wide, on occasion they have proven dangerous as they have also served as launchpads.
Following the incidents in Austin, F1 champions Sebastian Vettel and Alonso called for their removal from all circuits.
Asked whether they would be phased out, Masi replied: “You need to consider everything on a case-by-case basis as we have always said.
"They are all very different styles, what we have got in Austin versus what we had in Mexico, are two completely different beasts.
“You just need to look at them on a case by case, where they are, how it works and look at the whole scenario.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner Red Bull saga set to reignite with FIA 'evidence' hearing
- 11 minutes ago
F1 set for talks over RADICAL change to points rules
- 56 minutes ago
F1 News Today: 'Game over' for Perez as Red Bull chief claims rivals 'pressuring' star into contract
- 2 hours ago
Cullen sends out new relationship love as F1 team punished for GP injury – GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Perez makes 'game over' admission after Chinese GP disappointment
- Yesterday 22:57
Red Bull chief claims team 'pressuring' star driver into contract
- Yesterday 21:57
Related news
F1 applies for trademark for new US grand prix venue
FIA summon FOUR F1 teams to official hearing over alleged rule breaches
Hamilton disputes FIA punishment and claims 'a lot of other cars were illegal'
F1 champion slams 'dirty' Max Verstappen move
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