Fernando Alonso – Syndication Server

Drivers throw support behind GM F1 entry

A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team. F1 announced it is working …

F1 announced it is working towards GM joining the grid in 2026, whereby the team will run under the Cadillac name and use a customer power unit deal until its own works engine is ready in 2028. Its addition will expand the field to 11 teams and 22 cars, and Lewis Hamilton said it will also provide extra positions for engineers and mechanics as well as drivers.

“I think it’s great,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always been super supportive of having another team; more cars on the grid. To think of how many more job opportunities that is… I’m so happy to hear that it’s happening.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Hamilton is one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of more than 20 cars in the past – the last year being 2016 when the Manor team was last competing – and Fernando Alonso similarly backed a project that includes some of his former colleagues such as technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.

“Eleventh team, 22 drivers, it’s not the first time that we will be 22 on the grid,” Alonso said. “It’s a complex decision for the sport in general but if they came to that conclusion it’s because it’s the best for everybody. I will always support whatever management think that is the best.

“For the team personnel, they have a couple of people that were in the Renault days and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport. So I wish the best of luck. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people.”

For many of the younger drivers it will be the first time they race on a grid of more than 20 F1 cars, and Charles Leclerc said that provides more chances for up-and-coming driving talent, too.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” Leclerc said. “I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1. So for that, this is a good thing, and cool to have two more cars on the grid.”

Pierre Gasly echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, and emphasized benefits from a racing spectacle point of view.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. So more rivals, probably more action, more racing. So, exciting times. I think it’s been a long topic for quite a long time. So I’m sure if they came to that conclusion, definitely means it’s the best for the sport. So I’m excited about it.”

But it’s not just young drivers who are excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat at the end of this year and said he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.

“I think that’s just increased the chances of getting a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal,” Bottas said. “But if not, then there’s lots of other cool things in other series.

“Yes (I’ve had talks), I think for sure I’m not the only one, but of course, it’s interesting for me, and I think it’s great for F1. Great brand, GM is a big backer behind it so, for sure, it’s an interesting project.”

Magnussen is another who is set to drop off the grid next year, and he has history with the manufacturer after racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in IMSA in 2021.

“Absolutely, I think it’s exciting to see,” Magnussen said. “It’s a proper competitor coming in, a great name and an OEM who’s going to come in with guns blazing and throw everything at it I’m sure. So it’s exciting for the sport, exciting for the driver market, for the grid.

“You never know of course. I have driven for the factory before in IMSA, it was the factory Cadillac that I drove there, so I know the management, I know the people there. They know me. So you don’t know.”

Along with those more experienced names, Zhou Guanyu – who scored his first points of the season in Qatar on Sunday – has links to the GM entry’s advisory team, and says he’s also looking at the new constructor as a potential opportunity to get back on the grid in just over a year’s time.

“I’m fully aware that GM and also Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou said. “I think it’s very good for the sport in general because a lot of people are always talking about having not enough seats for the people, the young drivers available. Clearly, I think we have a lot of young drivers for next year.

“From my position, it’s a great opportunity and a great chance for next season when I’m not having a seat. So I can probably think about what the future will be and try to have an opportunity there. So I’m aware of that.

“But everything was just only announced this week. We still need to go through further details a bit more on that. But for me, my priority is trying to have another chance of coming back on the grid. So for me, I don’t really have where I go, but if there’s a chance to grab, I will absolutely take it.”

Alonso delays arrival in Brazil due to illness

Fernando Alonso will miss Thursday’s events at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix due to treatment on an illness that also hampered him in Mexico City. The Spaniard was absent from his media duties last week as Aston Martin said he was feeling unwell, but he …

Fernando Alonso will miss Thursday’s events at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix due to treatment on an illness that also hampered him in Mexico City.

The Spaniard was absent from his media duties last week as Aston Martin said he was feeling unwell, but he returned to the car for FP2 and completed the rest of the race weekend. Alonso retired from the grand prix in Mexico early on due to a brake issue.

Alonso’s team has now announced that it is an intestinal infection that has been affecting him, and that he has been seeking specialist treatment between races.

“Fernando had suffered with an intestinal infection in the lead up to the Mexico City Grand Prix,” a team statement explained. “He returned to Europe to receive further treatment from a specialist. The extra day of treatment has delayed his travel plans to Brazil but ensures he will be ready for this weekend’s racing.”

Should there be any further issues that impact Alonso’s ability to compete this weekend, one of the drivers Aston Martin can call upon is its Brazilian reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, who will be present at Interlagos and drove Alonso’s car in FP1 in Mexico City.

Alonso at 400: A hunger unmatched

There’s been a bit of consternation about how Fernando Alonso’s latest milestone has been reached. 400 race entries but this is set to be his 397th official start in Formula 1, although one of the missing three saw him start the 2001 Belgian Grand …

That doesn’t count towards his official starts in some quarters, but does highlight why it’s tough to choose exactly when to celebrate his remarkable achievement. Given his other two Did Not Start races were the infamous 2005 United States Grand Prix — when all Michelin runners withdrew after the formation lap — and Sochi in 2017 when a power unit issue thwarted him, also having taken the formation lap, then this weekend’s race in Mexico City has been selected.

Split it however you want to, Alonso’s longevity is remarkable. In the past he has referenced the importance of the two years he took away from F1 in 2019 and 2020 as a key component in still competing in a series that demands the utmost commitment, with 24 races across 21 countries around the world and significant global marketing demands on top.

A best result of fifth this year has been a comedown when juxtaposed against the remarkable start to his Aston Martin career he had a year ago, but Alonso has still been producing those almost-car-defying drives, getting every last point on offer and picking up four top-10 finishes — including an impressive sixth in Azerbaijan — since his teammate Lance Stroll last scored.

All at the age of of 43.

I’ve been lucky enough to not only follow a large portion of Alonso’s F1 career (although still barely more than half of his races, as he’d entered 189 already at the point I covered my first as a journalist), but also part of his sojourns into other major motorsport events. His first Indy 500 attempt was a particular highlight, when he threatened a remarkable debut victory, but it was his focus on becoming a stronger all-round driver that stood out.

“At the moment for me, the whole event as a driver keeps adding quality, experience and I think I will finish the event as a better driver,” he told me at the time. “Despite the result — I could finish the event in 28th — I will be a more complete driver. So that’s the first step of this adventure, to be better and better every day.”

That drive to improve is one of the keys to Alonso’s endurance. He’s since won the Le Mans 24 Hours on two occasions amid a World Endurance Championship title, been back to Indy and failed to qualify, returned again and finished 21st, made his Rolex 24 At Daytona debut and then won on his second appearance, and tackled Dakar.

The fact that those results came almost entirely in his two-year hiatus from F1 highlight the level he has been able to perform at across disciplines even into the latter stages of his career, but to then return to the series where he has won two world championships and maintain that standard is sensational.

The steering assists in F1 reduce some of the brute force required in other disciplines, but these are still cars that require a driver to be extremely fit to handle. Even more so, their reactions need to be at an elite level, and neither has dropped in Alonso’s case.

Yet for others who were reaching a similar age and performing strongly, there was usually a drop in desire. After so many years, to dedicate your entire life to racing in F1 was no longer attractive enough. But with Alonso, his motivation remains so high.

The commitment required to race an F1 car at the limit is without parallel. but at 43 Alonso is still always up for a battle. Sam Bloxham/Motorsport Images

“If you look at how at an advanced stage of the career he’s still performing, it’s incredible,” his current team principal Mike Krack says. “So if you ask about character or adjectives, there are many, but I think what you need to really point out is the talent — obviously, as many people have — but then the discipline and foremost, I think, the desire.

“The desire to compete, he’s super competitive. So [I’d describe him as] super competitive, super disciplined and super talented.”

Alonso has the desire to drive almost anything and everything, to such an extent that after completing 148 laps of the Yas Marina Circuit to end the 2021 post-season Pirelli tire test, he drove straight to Dubai and competed in a 24-hour karting race.

But that desire also stems from unfinished business in F1. As so many widely attest, two world titles do not reflect just how good Alonso is, and are far below what his abilities deserve.

“It’s incredible, the longevity that he’s had, the competitiveness that he has,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says. “And the statistics for the talent that he has and the ability he has… Two world championships don’t do him justice. He should have won more than that.”

On Friday, Horner cheekily revealed there had been an approach from Alonso about the driver situation at Red Bull as the Spaniard checked out his potential options before signing a long-term extension with Aston Martin. And Alonso admits his sole target is to add a third championship, with nothing else truly on his radar right now.

“I’m very, very focused [on] Formula 1 now,” he said in a recent event with Aston Martin title sponsor Cognizant. “For the next two or three years, I want to win the third world title. This is my first and only priority at the moment.”

The fact Indy is the only one missing from his triple crown is something Alonso acknowledges but believes he will be too old to attempt when he stops racing in F1. The Dakar instead remains on his list as an event he believes would elevate his reputation as a driver even further should he win.

But there’s nobody currently racing in F1 who can boast Alonso’s CV across the wider world of motorsports, and very few in the sport’s history that can do so. A third world title should not be required for anyone to appreciate that, and nor should record numbers in terms of race starts.

This weekend’s milestone does provide the opportunity to reflect on just what pushes Alonso to continue to be so good, though. He might not have the most titles, or wins, or a competitive car right now, but he is the first driver to even claim to have been involved in 400 grands prix, and has a hunger that is a match for absolutely anybody.

Alonso frets over strong race form obscured by Aston Martin weakness

Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s current Formula 1 form is “not good enough” after what he described as an “inspired weekend” of driving only netted him an 11th-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix. Aston Martin is currently fifth in the …

Aston Martin is currently fifth in the constructors’ championship but has scored just six points across the last four races, failing to get on the board in Monza. That came despite Alonso believing he outperformed the car in Italy as he was classified just one second behind ninth-placed Alex Albon. He says the drivers are having to be patient with the team but emphasized the need for improvements.

“Nothing we can do,” Alonso said. “I mean, we are in our team’s hands, and I think Lance [Stroll] and myself, we’re trying to do the best we can every weekend. One inspired weekend, like this from my side, I know it’s — Monza 2024 from Alonso — going to be completely anonymous but I think this year Lance and myself have been very close — two or three seconds away at the end of the race is always in front or behind.

“And [Monza] was one of those weekends that I was a little bit better, and I was happy with the car and pushing to the level that maybe was beyond 100%, and that was P11. So yeah, disappointed about that.

“We need to be patient. We need to understand that the big target is 2026. But at the same time, I think as a team, we could accept not being in the top-four battle. They are top teams and they are well in front of us. But now to be behind Williams, behind Haas, behind Toro Rosso, I think we need to raise the bar a little bit. We need to get better.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Alonso doesn’t expect to see Aston Martin being more competitive in Baku or Singapore, as he believes the car’s current level was on display in Italy.

“No. I think until we have an upgrade on the car, this is what it is, and this is not good enough,” he said. “Not good enough in Monza. Not good in Zandvoort, in Spa, in Hungary. So I don’t think there’s going to be a big change in Baku or Singapore or Austin unless we bring new parts.

“That’s the plan. The team is aware of the situation. The team is working flat out. So yeah, we keep united. We keep pushing. Last weekend was one point. [Monza] was close to two points, and that will be our battle.

“I think we still have time to react. It’s the first of September. McLaren improved in four months from last to the podium. So we have clear examples. Also, Mercedes started the same as us. We were level with Mercedes for the first four races, and they won three races already this year. So I’m not a fan of excuses.”

Although Adrian Newey is expected to be confirmed to be joining the team next week, Alonso downplayed how much immediate impact the legendary designer could have given what Aston Martin already has at its disposal.

“Well, there’s still only rumors, and I think it’s not only one man’s job to fix things,” he said. “It’s more what we have now and what we are producing. Understanding what is going in the right direction, what is going in the wrong direction, and try to prepare 2025 in a better way.”

Verstappen keen to understand impact of ERS issues in Canada

Max Verstappen wants to understand the implications Friday’s reliability issues could have on his season after suffering an ERS problem in practice at the Canadian Grand Prix. Red Bull called Verstappen into the pits on just his fourth lap of FP2 …

Max Verstappen wants to understand the implications Friday’s reliability issues could have on his season after suffering an ERS problem in practice at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Red Bull called Verstappen into the pits on just his fourth lap of FP2 and he had to jump clear of his car in the garage, with the team unable to touch it for some time before getting to work on a suspected ERS issue. The championship leader was one of a number of drivers — including teammate Sergio Perez, both RB drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon — to take a new power unit on Friday in Montreal, and he admits the situation could impact the rest of his year.

“Unfortunately FP2, not many laps for me. There was a suspected electrical issue so they told me to box, and they’re investigating now,” Verstappen said. “I haven’t been back in the garage yet, but I’m sure soon we’ll figure out what it is.

“It’s not ideal, I would have liked to drive more laps. Some other people had a few more laps in the dry, a few more laps now in the wet, so it’s definitely not how I would have liked to get on in FP2. I think it’s more important to just figure out what actually happened, and what kind of implications that will have for this weekend or the rest of the year.”

Teams are limited to four internal combustion engines (ICE), turbochargers, MGU-H and MGU-K components each season — with Verstappen taking his third of each on Friday — while they are also only permitted two energy store and control electronics components before receiving a penalty.

Verstappen wasn’t the only driver unhappy at the amount of running he got during a rain-affected day of practice, with Lando Norris not overly optimistic despite topping FP1.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

“Never enough, but we learned a good amount,” Norris said. “Actually not in the dry — didn’t learn enough in the dry to be honest. We did the least laps, I think, out of everyone. Not the best thing with that, but in the wet a good amount. I think we’re in a reasonable place. It’s always tricky around here, but I think a reasonable first day.

“At the minute…we seem a little bit off. Ferrari seem definitely a little bit ahead, but I don’t know where we are at the minute because the conditions are changing, so whether you do the first lap when the track’s the best, or the last lap when the track’s the best, it changes everything. I’ve no idea.”

Fernando Alonso was similarly uncertain about where Aston Martin stacks up after setting the fastest time of FP2, due to the majority of slick tire laps taking place on a damp track before further rain.

“It was a tricky Friday for everyone,” Alonso said. “Not many laps in FP1 and not many laps in FP2. Not proper laps in dry conditions and not proper laps in wet conditions — we were in the middle of nowhere. It could be like this in qualifying and the race so it’s still useful information. We need to analyze the data a little bit and be very sharp tomorrow – I think the right decision can gain you five seconds, the wrong decision you are out of the race.

“[The new track surface] feels OK. Obviously it’s not very clean. Also after the storm it’s quite dusty, but at the same time it feels quite good…so I think the new tarmac is a good one. We just need to test it in proper wet conditions to see if there is any aquaplaning or something like that.

“Apart from that, I think it’s going to be an interesting weekend for you guys from the outside, but for us it’s going to be a gamble…about which tire to put on in which moment. Let’s see if we get it right.”

Alonso slides atop the charts in a very wet Canadian FP2

Fernando Alonso topped a rain-interrupted second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen retired early with a power unit issue. Pit lane opened as scheduled for the second hour of practice, but dark clouds hung heavy over …

Fernando Alonso topped a rain-interrupted second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen retired early with a power unit issue.

Pit lane opened as scheduled for the second hour of practice, but dark clouds hung heavy over the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as a gaggle driver headed onto the track on slicks to make up for lost time in FP1.

Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly were quick to set lap times, but others were reticent in the slippery, drizzly conditions. It took another 15 minutes for drivers to attempt to attack the circuit with any meaningful anger.

Gasly briefly took top spot from Hamilton before Alonso relieved him of position as conditions gradually began to improve.

Home favorite Lance Stroll briefly usurped his teammate, and Charles Leclerc then momentarily took the fastest time, but Alonso slammed on three purple laps when the track was at its driest to set the pace at 1m 15.810s.

The rain came down shortly after, halting running, and though drivers re-emerged in the final 15 minutes, the track was never dry enough again for the Spaniard’s time to come under threat, with all drivers stuck on intermediate tires to the finish.

George Russell emerged as Alonso’s closest challenge, his Mercedes 0.463s off the pace, with Stroll holding onto third and 0.654s adrift of his teammate.

Monaco Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc was fourth, but his best lap, 0.746s off the pace, was set on the medium tire rather than softs.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Leclerc ended the session under investigation for improper tire usage, with Ferrari appearing to have sent him onto the track with intermediate tires minutes before the circuit was declared wet by race control at the beginning of the hour.

Daniel Ricciardo completed the top five for RB ahead of Kevin Magnussen, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez down in 10th.

Esteban Ocon was 11th ahead of Logan Sargeant, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri and Zhou Guanyu, whose car had been repaired following his FP1 crash.

The limited representative running was good news for title leader Verstappen, who lasted only 25 minutes in the session before smoke began billowing from the back of his car. The team suspected an energy recovery issue and ordered him back to his garage, where the Dutchman had to leap from the car as a safety precaution to guard against potential electrocution in the case of a battery problem.

Red Bull Racing had furnished him with a brand-new power unit at the beginning of the day.

The problem left him anchored 18th in the order with only four unrepresentative laps.

Pierre Gasly ended the hour 19th ahead of Lando Norris in 20th, who will be investigated by the stewards for failing to use the escape road after running wide at the final chicane.

‘One of those days where everything went wrong’ – Alonso

Fernando Alonso was left to rue a day “where everything went wrong” after crashing in FP3 and qualifying 19th for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Aston Martin were looking to reach Q3 with an upgraded car in Imola but had their preparations for …

Fernando Alonso was left to rue a day “where everything went wrong” after crashing in FP3 and qualifying 19th for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Aston Martin were looking to reach Q3 with an upgraded car in Imola but had their preparations for qualifying hit when Alonso spun at the final corner and hit the barrier. The damage required both car crews to work on Alonso’s car to get it ready in time for Q1, but then an unspecified issue led to him aborting his final attempt to advance and he was slowest of those to set a time before Logan Sargeant saw a lap deleted.

“One of those days that everything went wrong,” Alonso said. “Starting [with] FP3 obviously with a crash, quite heavy. The mechanics did a good job to make everything ready for Q1.

“And then in Q1, a combination of things, to be honest. We started with fuel for the whole session, just to give me a little bit of laps and practice. Just preparing some pit stops.

“I set the lap time at the very beginning when the car was heavy on fuel. Then when the car was light at the end and we put the last set of tires on, I had to box for an unknown problem. They called me [to] box, so it was quite painful.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

“I asked a few times [if they were sure they wanted me to box now]… I’m sorry for the mechanics because they deserve better after the job that they have done. But yeah, one of those days that everything goes in the wrong place.”

Alonso did at least feel that the Aston Martin upgrades were a step forward but believes the nature of the Imola circuit means he might struggle to show that pace on Sunday.

“The car felt a little bit faster this morning compared to yesterday before the crash. Now into qualifying the car also felt good. As I said, that lap is the first lap of the day for me on soft tires and heavy on fuel.

“I think there is a little bit of pace in hand. But yeah, the upgrades, I think the team is the one to analyze it and to comment on it. I think we have a lot of data from yesterday, especially FP1.

“Let’s see. I think Imola is one of the worst places to start at the back … it is the second most difficult circuit to overtake behind Monaco. Singapore ranks easier than [Imola] to overtake, so that tells everything. It’s going to be a tough race, but we should be able to learn something about the package.”

Call to review Alonso’s Chinese GP penalty rejected

Aston Martin’s petition for a right to review the penalty given to Fernando Alonso in the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix has been rejected. Alonso was penalized for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz late in the Sprint in Shanghai, earning a …

Aston Martin’s petition for a right to review the penalty given to Fernando Alonso in the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix has been rejected.

Alonso was penalized for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz late in the Sprint in Shanghai, earning a time penalty and three penalty points that put him half way to a race ban. Aston Martin lodged a petition for the right to review the penalty earlier this week, meaning it had to prove there was a “significant and relevant new element which was unavailable to the party seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned”.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

The hearing took place via videoconference on Friday morning as it involved stewards from the previous race who are not in Miami, and Aston Martin submitted that the “significant and relevant new element” was the forward-facing camera view from Alonso’s car, that was unavailable to the team and the stewards at the time of the original decision.

While the stewards agreed that the footage was new and unavailable at the time, they did not feel it met the threshold of being significant, because “while it showed the incident from a different angle, it added nothing material to the visual perspective that we already had”.

As a result, the request was dismissed and the penalty points stand.

Alonso was critical of FIA stewarding prior to the decision being made public on Saturday night, as he stated “I do feel that nationality matters” when it comes to penalties being given to drivers, following his comments that Lewis Hamilton would not be penalized for his role in an incident at the start of the Sprint in Miami “because he’s not Spanish”.

Alonso claims Spanish drivers being treated differently by FIA

Fernando Alonso has claimed Spanish drivers are being treated differently by the FIA after a lack of a penalty for Lewis Hamilton at the Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton attacked Alonso down the inside of Turn 1 at the start of the sprint, arriving …

Fernando Alonso has claimed Spanish drivers are being treated differently by the FIA after a lack of a penalty for Lewis Hamilton at the Miami Grand Prix.

Hamilton attacked Alonso down the inside of Turn 1 at the start of the sprint, arriving quickly with Alonso having already made contact with teammate Lance Stroll just before the Mercedes pulled alongside. Stroll was then knocked into Lando Norris who was taken out of the race, and speaking after the Sprint had finished Alonso told Spanish broadcaster DAZN he expected the stewards to make a call based on nationality.

“I’m sure they won’t decide anything [against Hamilton] because he’s not Spanish,” Alonso said. “But I think he ruined a lot of people’s races, especially Norris — who has a very fast car.”

The stewards opted to take no further action, citing the three separate collisions as one of the factors in that decision.

“From the video evidence, it appeared that there were at least three collisions that occurred – the first between cars No. 14 (Alonso) and No. 18 (Stroll) and then between car No. 44 (Hamilton) and car No. 14 and finally between car No. 18 and car No. 4 (Norris).

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

“While it appeared to us that the incidents began with cars No. 14 and No. 18, the sudden and fast arrival of car No. 44 contributed to the various collisions. However, we were not able to identify one or more drivers wholly or predominantly to blame for the various collisions or any one of them.

“Also keeping in mind that this was in Turn 1 of lap one where greater latitude is given to drivers for incidents, we took no further action.”

When that outcome was then put to Alonso after qualifying had finished, he maintained his stance that nationality plays a part in penalties.

“I have to open the gap because Hamilton was coming from the inside without control of the car, so if I do that for sure I get the penalty.

“I do feel that nationality matters, and I will speak with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem], with the FIA, whatever… I need to make sure there is not anything wrong with my nationality or anything that can influence any decision, not only for me also for the future generation of the Spanish drivers. They need to be protected.”

Aston Martin seeks review of Alonso penalty in China

Aston Martin has lodged a petition for a right to review the penalty given to Fernando Alonso during the Sprint in the Chinese Grand Prix. Alonso was penalized for colliding with Carlos Sainz during a fierce battle in the closing stages of the …

Aston Martin has lodged a petition for a right to review the penalty given to Fernando Alonso during the Sprint in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Alonso was penalized for colliding with Carlos Sainz during a fierce battle in the closing stages of the Sprint, with the pair making contact on multiple occasions and Alonso’s attempt to regain the position on the inside of Turn 9 pushing both cars wide.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]

Alonso picked up a puncture and Sainz damage in the incident, but then it was the Aston Martin driver who was given a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on his Super License afterwards.

The penalty points mean Alonso is now on six for the past 12 months, and six more before March of next year would lead to an automatic one-race ban. The first three points were handed out for the incident with George Russell in Melbourne this year.

Aston Martin is now seeking a review of the penalty in China, with an initial hearing to take place via videoconference on Friday in Miami to determine if a “significant and relevant new element which was unavailable to the party seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned” exists.

If the stewards decide that there is such an element, then the hearing will proceed to a second part to review the initial decision – but not necessarily change it – and at that stage any interested parties are allowed to join the hearing.

Ferrari has also been summoned to the initial hearing.