Alonso slams ‘stupid F1 rule’ in radio blast amid Australian GP chaos

Formula One preview: A lap of the Australian Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso blasted F1’s “stupid rule” that nearly cost him a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix after a dramatic red flag restart saw the Aston Martin star involved in a crash. The Spaniard was furious on the team radio after he was spun around by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in an incident-laden race in Melbourne, which looked to have cost him a podium finish and 15 points before the FIA came to his rescue.

The 41-year-old was on course for his third podium finish in as many races after an action-packed race in Australia, having started fourth on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

He was promoted to third when Russell retired from the race and kept apace with Hamilton in the latter stages of the race.

A third flag of the race was waved when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas collided with the barrier, ensuring there would be a two-lap shootout at the end between Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso for the race win.

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But Alonso, who attacked Hamilton off the line before backing off to make the first turn, could do nothing to stop his car spinning out after being tagged by Sainz as the Spaniard couldn’t slow down his Ferrari in time. 

And the two-time world champion rued the regulations which state cars must line up on the grid for a standing start after a red flag resumption, before amazingly switching his focus to the aftermath mid-collision.

“Stupid rule,” Alonso said. “Maybe because we don’t complete the lap the order goes back to the restart. Like at Silverstone. This they should do. Check this.”

“We are on it,” his engineer said in response.

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At one stage, it looked as if Aston Martin’s race had been completely wrecked after the carnage that followed the restart, with five cars potentially facing retirement. Lance Stroll was also in P3 when he went off onto the gravel, but both Aston Martins were rescued by the FIA regulations.

After a long delay to establish the race order, it was confirmed that both drivers would be reinstated in their position on the previous lap, meaning Alonso would be third for the rolling start and Stroll fifth, climbing to fourth after Sainz’s penalty.

That would be a huge relief to Alonso and Stroll, would have lost a combined 27 points if the order after the crash had been left to finish the race.

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