Fernando Alonso has revealed he is planning talks with the FIA over what he perceives to be nationality bias when it comes to the stewards giving Formula 1 penalties.
Alonso entered the Miami weekend admitting that he was seeking clarification over the rules for what constitutes a penalty following his time drop in the China Sprint.
The Spaniard was left incensed post-Sprint as Lewis Hamilton’s late dive to the inside at Turn 1 triggered contact that handed him a puncture and sent two drivers out.
Despite the stewards determining that the clash was a racing incident, Alonso reckons he would have been penalised had he committed the same action as Hamilton.
“I have to open the gap because Hamilton was coming from the inside without control of the car, so if I do that for sure I get the penalty,” Alonso said.
Prior to the stewards clearing Hamilton, Alonso was certain that his long-time F1 rival would escape without punishment for the incident because “he’s not Spanish”.
Asked whether he believed the stewards take nationality into account, Alonso disclosed that he would bring up the issue with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“I do feel that nationality matters, and I will speak with Mohammed, with the FIA, whatever, I need to make sure there is not anything wrong with my nationality or anything that can influence any decision, not only for me also for the future generation of the Spanish drivers they need to be protected,” he answered.
Alonso endured a miserable qualifying in Miami as he was fortunate to avoid being eliminated in Q1 and then was the slowest driver of all across the second stage.
“Well a little bit disappointed qualifying for us, P15 in Q1, P15 in Q2, I didn’t have much pace today,” he conceded.
“We made some set-up changes since this morning, looking at the times probably didn’t work as expected and we are a little less competitive than normal.
“Anyway with two tenths you can be P8 or P15, we are on the wrong side of the group, as we’ve been on the good side in the last few races,
P5 in Japan and P3 in China was completely unexpected.
“Tough day, will be a tough race, hopefully with Lance [Stroll] starting P11 we can score a few points, with me P15 I think it’s going to be very difficult.”
