F1 boss ATTACKS Max Verstappen call after 'harsh' penalty decision

max verstappen, red bull, japanese grand prix, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 boss ATTACKS Verstappen call after 'harsh' penalty decision

F1 boss blasts 'very harsh' Fernando Alonso punishment after Verstappen penalty decision.

By Sheona Mountford.

Sunday 7 April 2024 15:30

One Formula 1 boss has claimed that a penalty handed to Fernando Alonso at the Australian Grand Prix was 'very harsh'.

George Russell crashed on the final lap of the race in pursuit of Fernando Alonso for sixth place.

Article continues under video

After running across the gravel trap the Mercedes hit the wall in a terrifying incident which resulted in a virtual safety car being deployed.

As a result Alonso was given a 20 second penalty by the stewards for “potentially dangerous driving” in front of Russell.

Fernando Alonso was handed a 20-second time penalty

Mike Krack calls Alonso penalty ‘very harsh’

Whilst Lando Norris described Alonso’s move as odd he added that it was not deserving of a penalty.

Nico Hulkenberg on the other hand ‘wasn’t very impressed’ with Alonso’s driving, describing it as ‘dangerous’.

Unsurprisingly, Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack supports his driver Alonso in the incident and has called the penalty ‘harsh’.

“At the end of the day, it’s great that nothing happened to him [George Russell] during the scene. We got a penalty, that was very very harsh from our point of view,” he said to Sky Germany before FP2 at the Japanese GP.

“There was a similar situation in the past. If I can recall Jeddah, between Max and Lewis. It was a brake test back in the day and the penalty was not that big.

“We didn’t even have contact with the car. The fact is, we got a penalty and we are not turning the page and focusing on Suzuka.”

Mercedes George Russell Fernando Alonso Australian Grand Prix Mike Krack