Alonso offers apology for 'destroying' Gasly's Miami GP

Ewan Gale
Tuesday 10 May 2022 17:00

Fernando Alonso has offered an apology to Pierre Gasly after effectively ending the AlphaTauri driver's Miami Grand Prix.

The two-time F1 world champion was aiming to make up for lost time at his pit stop when making a move on Gasly, a manoeuvre described by the Frenchman as a 'divebomb'.

The resultant damage led to Gasly slowing and clashing with Lando Norris' McLaren, with both drivers retiring and triggering a late safety car period.

"It was my mistake, I broke too late," conceded Alonso.

"We were ready to give back the position but he was in the pits at that time so I have to pay those five seconds and then the safety car was right and perfect for the hard [tyre] starters once again.

"So we lost a couple of places there."

Confirming he had apologised to Gasly, Alonso explained: "Yeah, it was my mistake. It happens sometimes to me.

"Mick spun in Imola and destroyed my race, I broke too late, I destroyed Pierre's race so it was my mistake and I feel sorry for him because I know how he should feel and it was not his fault.

"It is too hard not to finish a race after someone touches you from behind so it was bad luck for him and my mistake."

Alonso "very aggressive" at the start

Alonso made a stunning start to the race by overtaking a multitude of rivals into the first corner as drivers searched for grip on the tricky Miami International Autodrome surface.

But the Alpine driver was fortunate to get away with a tap with Lewis Hamilton and was given a second five-second penalty post-race for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, losing his points-finish.

"A tough race. I was very aggressive at the start, I made four or five places there, I touched Lewis but the car was good after that so that was a lucky touch," added Alonso.

"Then on the pit stop, I had a slow pit stop so I lost like four seconds there and I had to recover that time with Gasly.

"Eventually I closed the gap and I was very optimistic for the move with him, so I touched with Gasly again and I had the penalty, five seconds, which I deserve."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes