Fernando Alonso launches scathing attack on FIA

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Alonso launches scathing attack on FIA

Alpine driver fumed after Abu Dhabi GP qualifying

Ian Parkes

Saturday 11 December 2021 16:59

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Fernando Alonso has launched a scathing attack on the FIA and Michael Masi, accusing the governing body's race director of being "too soft".

Alonso was left fuming following qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, pointing a finger at McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo for "clear impeding" through turn 16 as he was completing his flying lap and with the Australian about to embark on his.

Alonso ultimately missed out on a place in the top 10 to Ricciardo by just 0.012secs.

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Although the incident is under investigation, Alonso said: “Unfortunately, we don’t have anyone policing this.

“[The] Race director [Masi] is too soft on this. If you let us play on the out laps and things like that, it’s always going to be a mess.

"We need a referee to protect us and at the moment, we don’t have it, so that's bad.

“And then on the traffic itself, it’s McLaren’s fault, the team or the driver whatever. Even if there’s a lot of traffic on the out lap, you need to move when a fast car is coming and he didn’t move.

“In Austria, [Sebastian] Vettel had three places so I expect three places minimum or more. I think I will start ninth, in my opinion.

“Our team is very sharp on telling us when a fast car is coming. I have had zero investigations for impeding in the whole year, so you also have to be sharp.

“The people that are not sharp are investigated. Normally they get the penalty, but this is another thing, it’s very random.”

It is not the first time Alonso has criticised the FIA this season, doing so with regard to track limits violations most prominently.

Asked whether he had been surprised by the decision making following his return to F1 this year and whether it felt worse, Alonso said: "Definitely. Much worse than 2018.

"There are no rules out there. For the out lap, there are no minimum times to respect. On the first lap, there are a lot of strange movements and off track.

“I complained [during] the first third of the championship, then I changed attitude, and then I was doing the same.

"There was one impeding today and now I don’t have any more races to impede anyone. It’s not in my heart to impede.

"No one wants to be in the middle of anyone's fast lap because then you go to the stewards and normally you get a three-place penalty."

Alonso dismissed the fact a change of race director had made the difference, with Masi replacing Charlie Whiting in early 2019 following the latter's death.

Assessing the situation, the two-time F1 champion said: “The issue is that we should be more aligned with the things that are right and the things that are wrong.

“It should be more black and white, what is a penalty, what is not a penalty, and they have to be harsh in some of the decisions.

“In football, when somebody makes a tackle, and there is a big penalty or whatever, there is a red card, and here, they’re struggling to show a yellow card or red card.

“That’s why we keep repeating the same bad things.”