It is not the first time this year that the checkered flag has proved insufficient to put an end to a grand prix. The host team of the United States Grand Prix: Haas, he demands explanations from the FIA regarding the contradictions he often runs into. The legislator, also this weekend, was in the eye of the storm with regard to the budget issue chap; he also didn't find pleasant judgments following the too good penalty inflicted on Russell after contact with Sainz at the first corner. But back to the Haas…
The FIA penalizes Alonso, but Haas has a hand
The last of the two safety cars that entered the track on Sunday followed him scary incident between Stroll and Alonso, future partners in Aston Martin in 2023. The Canadian swerved to the left in full straight, and the Asturian fromAlpine it risked taking off, which didn't happen thanks to the safety of these new single-seaters, and perhaps also due to a bit of luck.
After the checkered flag, the stewards handed Alonso a 30-second penalty, dropping the Spaniard from a miraculous seventh position, to an abysmal 15th place. Haas moved the situation to ensure that the number 14 of the Alpine received a penalty.
The reasons for the request
The extra point earned by Magnussen advancing one position isn't the only reason the American team has engaged in the protest. Haas did not see a uniform yardstick in the commissioners compared to situations that concerned her closely. Indeed, the Dane this year has received well three times an orange and black flag due to endplate damage of the front wing. Haas didn't like the fact that the commissioners didn't immediately take action for the dangerous conditions in which Alonso was shooting, who he grinded kilometers with a dangling mirror, then flew away. The American team also referred, to support its protest, to the fact that the pilot Red Bull Sergio Perez did not receive a black and orange flag while riding, as Magnussen did several times, with thedangling endplate.
Steiner on the "Alonso" issue
The team principal of the team fresh from sponsors he had his say about the failure to flag Alonso, bringing up the presence of the extremes for a disqualification"I didn't target anyone. For me the FIA must be consistent. If one mirror is missing and the rule says you must have two, why say there was an accident and there was only one? However, you must have two".
"Sometimes it's okay, sometimes it's not. We have to find a way to make it go well or not, whether we know if we follow a consistent criterion or not".
"We saw that mirror waving, so what they should have displayed the black and orange flag. Then that piece flew off and should have been disqualified because he didn't have the safety equipment. It is as if the headrest has lifted".
Steiner's interesting reflection on Perez
According to Gunther Steiner's opinion, the regulation is not well applied in case of damage to the front wing. If the endplate remains attached but dangling, in fact, a black and orange flag is given. If, on the other hand, it detached immediately, there would be no consequences for the pilot. “As for the front wing, it's as if there are two weights and two measures. If you lose it you're good to go, but if it's coming off, even without the risk that it won't come off, then it's not good".
"There are several ways to make the front wings and we have chosen a safe way to not detach the endplate. At this point it will be safer to let them fly away rather than keep them anchored".
The opinion of the pilot: Magnussen joins the chorus
The Danish of Haas shares what his team principal said, asking for more consistency for the races to come: “They have to be consistent." I fully understand the argument that these parts can fly off and be dangerous, but if they gave me the black and orange flag three times this year then it is very frustrating to see riders who raced with dangling parts today without getting the same warning".
"I really don't understand. In these races, when I had the black and orange flag, we could have scored points and that could have meant positions in the constructors' championship and consequently a lot of money. It was a great damage to our team".
"I don't care which direction they take, they just need to take a direction and keep it consistently".
SOURCE: motorsport.com
