Infringement Car 14 Causing A Collision
Chinese Grand Prix · 2024 · 20 April 2024 · Doc 40
- Driver
- Fernando Alonso
- Team
- Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
- Session
- Sprint
2024 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
19 - 21 April 2024
From The Stewards
To The Team Manager,
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Document 40 Date 20 April 2024 Time 14:32
The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, have considered the following matter and determine the following:
No / Driver 14 - Fernando Alonso Competitor Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Time 11:30
Session Sprint
Fact Incident between cars 14 & 55 in Turn 9. Infringement Breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 d) of the International Sporting Code. Decision 10 second time penalty to be added to the elapsed time of Car 14 3 penalty points (total of 6 for the 12 month period). Reason The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 14 (Fernando Alonso), the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 14 caused a collision with Car 55 at Turn 9. The result of the collision was that Car 55 was damaged and that Car 14 had a puncture and retired before the end of the sprint session. As per the guidelines on driving standards, which was agreed with the teams, an infringement of this nature required that a baseline penalty of 10 seconds was to be added to the time of a car that caused a collision. Article 54.3 of the Sporting Regulations states if the 10 second penalty is imposed after the end of a sprint session, then 10 seconds will be added to the elapsed time of the driver concerned. We accordingly added 10 seconds to the elapsed time of Car 14. As an aside to the FIA, we note that the language in the regulations as to when a car has retired and the resultant consequences on penalties that may be imposed or served, especially when that car is otherwise classified, is somewhat unclear and we would recommend that the FIA considers making the necessary amendments to bring greater clarity to this issue. Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.
The Stewards Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented.