It was revealed there BBC According to what an informant reported to the FIA, “Bin Sulayem personally intervened to cancel the penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso. This situation could have arisen during the 2023 Saudi Grand Prix.” According to the informant, Bin Sulayem called the Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa – the current FIA Vice President for the sport in the Middle East and North Africa region, who was in Saudi Arabia to participate in the race in his official capacity – allegedly told him that in his opinion “the penalty imposed on Alonso during this race should be cancelled”.
What happened at the Saudi Arabia Award 2023?
Alonso initially received a five-second penalty at the start due to his car being placed partly outside its designated place on the grid. This punishment was then carried out at the first station. However, he was a two-time world champion at the time Imposing a new 10-second penalty Because, according to the race commissioners, Aston Martin mechanics lightly touched the Spaniard's car while serving the penalty, which is prohibited by the regulations. But then the additional 10-second penalty was overturned on appeal. The British team had provided video evidence of cases in the past where no penalty was imposed after a slight touch on the backlink. At this point, the ball moves to the FIA Ethics Committee which will have to verify the legality of any pressure from the FIA President on the Vice President and from the latter on the race commissioners: a report is expected within a month and a half. In fact, in Formula 1 jurisprudence, the stewards are considered independent of the federation, and it is up to them to decide whether or not to cancel the sanctions.
It must be remembered that the penalty knocked Alonso out of third place behind the Red Bull drivers Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen – In fourth place, also behind Mercedes driver George Russell. The penalty withdrawal then put him back on the podium. Awarding more points in the standings to Alonso and Aston Martin.
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