After a frightening wheelie with his car he came back to the ground, hit a wall, thinking "ok I'll have to retire". Then the desperate pit stop for a new front wing, perhaps because he's still full of adrenaline. He restarted the race from the rear end finishing the race in seventh place despite the accident. At the end of the Grand Prix, ad Austin, Fernando Alonso, leaning on the front tire of his single-seater he achieved everything. He realized that he had accomplished the umpteenth feat, that he was miraculous for the risk taken. That he probably has the strongest car in the paddock.
There was one thing he didn't know and that he just wouldn't accept: surrender. And this was imposed on him at the end of the race due to a note from the FIA addressed to Fernando and at the Alpine. A note on an issue raised by Haas, which led to a heavy sentence: 30 seconds of penalty on the final result, not being able to directly impose a 10 second Stop&Go, and therefore no points for Fernando. The question immediately saw the protests of Alpine, who stubbornly dragged Haas and the FIA onto the discussion table until Thursday of Mexico City GP. The topic of discussion? Complain about the fact that Alonso in the race, or in parc ferme did not receive any communication and that Haas filed an appeal beyond the time limit allowed. However, the FIA has decided, and the result is decidedly surprising!
The attack on the FIA
Haas had lodged a complaint arguing that Fernando shouldn't have raced in a car that didn't meet safety standards, due to a mirror that was damaged in contact with the wall and then flew off after a few laps. Haas also protested an incident involving Perez and a wing piece that flew off. The team decided to intervene due to the repeated penalties received by its drivers in similar situations.
The crux of the situation is that the FIA is always at fault on something, moreover it proves to be inconsistent in many situations. The issue of Alonso's mirror had been reported by Haas in the race. However, no one from the race direction asked the team to stop the car and remove the mirror to make it safe again. The FIA decided to intervene only after Haas' complaint, at the end of the GP. Alonso himself has questioned the decision-making process of the commissioners and the related inconsistency on several occasions this year.
Alpine's protest
Alpine stressed the fact that Haas' protest was published after the time limit had expired. The French team also complained of an inconsistency regarding what happened with Perez, given that the Mexican ran a few laps with a damaged front wing, part of which he then detached after a few laps. The fight for 4th place with McLaren is still on at Alpine. With very few races to go even a handful of points is important. Alpine and Alonso were immediately very hard and clear with the Federation.
"It is an important day for the sport as this decision will tell if we are heading in the right direction” Fernando wrote on Instagram, surrounded by affection and esteem for Sunday's feat.
However resorting to a further review of the case and a re-assignment of points almost a week after the Grand Prix is not in the spirit of the FIA, much less in the modus operandi, which frankly is difficult to understand.
La turning point: Alonso keeps the P7
No one would have expected it but Alpine managed to get Fernando Alonso's seventh place back. Which means that the initial final classification will be re-established, thus modifying the sporting result. Alpine's protest just an hour before the final decision had actually been rejected by the FIA. In response, therefore, Alpine has asked for a "right of review" of the Stewards' decision - which they are allowed to do as long as they are within 14 days of the end of the competition in question.
The appeal to the commissioners it paid off. These said they were concerned that Alonso was being allowed to stay on track with his mirror in those conditions, and "strongly recommends that procedures are in place to monitor such matters” and to immediately report them to the teams.
I commissioners they also added: “We also know that the FIA president has initiated a review of the use of the black and orange flag".
Alpine thanks
Alpine can say that it is more relieved that it does not have to carry this discussion even further, and that it has not uncovered what Alonso defined in the press conference as a "Pandora's box". “The BWT Alpine F1 Team thanks the FIA stewards for meeting and reaching a positive conclusion on the matter involving car no. 14 of last weekend's United States Grand Prix. The team welcomes the decision taken by the aforementioned stewards, whereby car no. 14 restores his seventh place finish and six points from the race.” reads the profile Twitter of the Alpine.
“We look forward to continuing our collaborative work alongside the FIA to ensure the racing spectacle is maintained to the highest quality. The team is now looking forward to racing this weekend at the Mexico City Grand Prix."
