FIA clarify pitstop penalty process after Alonso confusion
The FIA has clarified how Formula 1 drivers must serve in-race penalties following the confusion around Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia.
Alonso was parked too far to the left of his grid box in Jeddah, and was hit with a five-second penalty, serving it at his sole pitstop.
However, despite the penalty appearing to be correctly served, race control reported to the stewards in the closing laps that this was not the case - the rear jack appearing to touch the Aston Martin before the five-seconds had elapsed.
Alonso was handed a further penalty, demoting him off the podium, but Aston later were successful in getting the decision overturned, reinstating the 100th podium of his career.
A similar situation had unfolded with Alpine driver Esteban Ocon in Bahrain, with the FIA now clarifying that no equipment whatsoever must touch the car when it is serving a penalty . Viewed by others: ...