F1 Rumour: Mercedes Was Behind Fernando Alonso's 10-Second Penalty At Jeddah

Did Mercedes bring up the jack incident with the FIA?

Rumours are circulating after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saying that Mercedes were responsible for Fernando Alonso's 10-second penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Toto Wolff has commented on this.

The 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will undoubtedly be remembered as a race filled with controversy, confusion, and frustration for fans and drivers alike. The heart of the matter revolves around Fernando Alonso's post-race penalty and its subsequent reversal, which has led to intense debate within the motorsport community.

Alonso's Penalty Debacle

Initially, Fernando Alonso secured a spot on the podium after a hard-fought race in his Aston Martin. However, the celebration was cut short when race stewards demoted him to fourth place by imposing a ten-second post-race penalty. The penalty was linked to an alleged violation that occurred on lap 18, where it was claimed that Alonso had incorrectly served his five-second penalty.

The core of the debate focused on whether an Aston Martin mechanic had made contact with Alonso's car with their jack during the penalty in the pits. An act that didn't quite necessitate the punishment according to the regulations. 

Aston Martin's Successful Appeal

Aston Martin contested the stewards' decision, presenting evidence of similar scenarios where a punishment wasn't handed out. The minutes of this meeting detailed seven similar instances in which drivers were not penalised, so the penalty was overturned, and Alonso's podium position was reinstated.

Drivers and Fans Express Frustration

The entire ordeal left fans and drivers confused and frustrated, with Alonso himself criticising the FIA in his post-race interview. He lamented the lack of clarity and consistency in the penalty application process, highlighting the negative impact on fans' experience.

“Today is not good for the fans. When you take 35 laps to apply a penalty and to inform about the penalty and you inform after the podium, there’s something really wrong in the system,” he said

George Russell, who would have claimed P3, his first podium of the year, if Alonso's penalty had been upheld, also weighed in on the situation. He urged the FIA to exercise "a little bit of common sense" in future decisions to avoid similar controversies.

Mercedes' Alleged Involvement

Adding fuel to the fire, German newspaper Bild reported that it was actually Mercedes that was responsible for alerting the FIA to the alleged pitlane incident involving Alonso. Mercedes supposedly informed race stewards about the violation through their radio system during the race.

While Mercedes has refrained from commenting on the allegations, team principal Toto Wolff admitted to reviewing the incident in question. 

“We need to discuss whether a penalty is correct if the jack just touches the car,” the Mercedes chief said.

“Maybe that needs to be changed."