F1: Alonso says something seriously wrong with the FIA

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Toto Wolff wanted Michael Masi gone as Race Director because Masi was not his puppet.

He got his wish, and now we have what we have.

Fernando Alonso has criticized the FIA and feels “something is really wrong with the system” over his late penalty that cost him a podium in the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Aston Martin driver finished third on track, overcoming an initial five-second penalty for lining up incorrectly in his grid position at the start.

But, after the podium ceremony, he was given another 10-second penalty for work starting on his car when the first penalty was served in his pitstop, dropping him behind George Russell and to fourth in the final results.

Fernando Alonso, leads the two Mercedes in his Aston Martin AMR23. The Mercedes team had nothing for the Spaniard as he schooled them all race long.

“I think today is not good for the fans, when you have 35 laps to apply a penalty and to inform about the penalty,” Alonso said.

“You wait for after the podium, there is something really wrong in the system, but it’s the way it is.

“I feel sorry for the fans. But I really enjoyed the podium. I had the trophy, I had pictures, I celebrated with the champagne and now to have 15 points or 12 points it really doesn’t change much for me.

“But it’s a bit sad for the FIA.”

“I think it needs to come back to common sense. We don’t need to invent anything,” Alonso explained.

“The thing is that they told me you have five seconds penalty. So I push a little bit harder. And I open seven seconds and I pay the penalty. In the second stint there was no investigation, no information. No nothing.

“If someone tells me you have 10 seconds I open 11 seconds.”