Fernando Alonso openly expressed his frustration after the Singapore Grand Prix, targeting Lewis Hamilton over the British driver’s brake failure issues. The Aston Martin racer finished eighth in the 62-lap contest but was angered by Hamilton’s choice to continue racing despite near-total brake loss.
Alonso managed to close the gap to Hamilton in the last few laps, overtaking him as Hamilton struggled with brake problems while competing with Kimi Antonelli for fifth place. Despite the severity of his brake failure, Hamilton kept pushing on track during the final laps.
On the cool-down lap, Alonso did not hold back his criticism, questioning whether Hamilton should have been allowed to drive on without brakes due to the obvious safety concerns involved.
“Oh, f***ing hell, man. I cannot believe it. Yeah, he knew it. I cannot f***ing believe it, I cannot f***ing believe it. I mean, I cannot f***ing believe it. I cannot f***ing believe it.”
“Is it safe to drive with no brakes? Oh, he should…”
During the radio exchange, Alonso’s engineer responded:
“Yeah, no, no, we are looking to, we agree, we’re checking track limits and stuff as well. You see, there’s a margin there. Run switch warm-up, mate, run switch warm-up. That is P8 anyway, so good recovery.”
Alonso replied:
“Yeah, but this should be f***ing P7. I mean, you cannot drive. Like if you are alone on track. Yeah, I mean, no respect the red flag yesterday, today, free track for them. I mean, maybe too much.”
FIA Stewards Penalize Hamilton but Only Issue a Five-Second Time Penalty
Following the race, the FIA stewards imposed a five-second penalty on Lewis Hamilton for exceeding track limits repeatedly during the closing laps. This penalty altered the final classification, allowing Alonso to reclaim seventh place from Hamilton.
Alonso’s seventh-place result boosted him ahead of teammate Lance Stroll in the Drivers’ Championship and marked his first points scoring finish since the race at Zandvoort. The 44-year-old driver’s performance was a positive sign for Aston Martin.
Despite the clear dangers of Hamilton driving with severely compromised brakes, the relatively minor penalty raised concerns over the adequacy of stewarding in this case. Many observers felt the five-second time penalty was disproportionately lenient given the risks involved.
This decision highlights ongoing frustrations with inconsistent rulings by race officials, which continue to spark debate about the fairness and safety oversight in Formula 1.
Safety Concerns and Race Stewarding Draw Scrutiny After Singapore GP
The incident at the Singapore Grand Prix underscores the critical importance of safety standards in Formula 1, especially when multiple drivers’ welfare could be jeopardized by risky decisions on track. Alonso’s blunt condemnation of Hamilton emphasizes how vital it is that drivers do not push dangerous mechanical failures beyond safe limits.
The stewards’ decision to issue only a small penalty despite Hamilton’s apparent breach of safety norms could prompt calls for stricter enforcement and clearer regulations in future races.
As the season progresses, these events may influence how teams manage mechanical issues during races and increase pressure on officiating bodies to maintain consistent and firm disciplinary standards.
