Barrichello/Alonso crash deemed racing incident

It has been confirmed by FIA race stewards in Belgium that no penalties or cautions will be handed out for the first-lap coming-together involving the Williams of Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari of championship contender Fernando Alonso.

The two cars came into contact at the Bus Stop Chicane when, as rain began to fall and with all runners on Slick tires, the Brazilian rammed the back of the Spaniard’s car, causing a loss of the left-front wheel for the former and a spin for the latter.

The official FIA report from the four stewards, one of whom is 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, reads as follows:

‘Concerning the incident between cars no. 8 and cars no. 9 on Lap 1 at Turn 19, the Stewards of the Meeting, having heard from both drivers, having viewed the video evidence and having taken into account the sudden change in weather and track conditions, consider it to be a racing incident and therefore decide to take no further action.’