Mercedes driver Russell’s race ended in disappointment when he crashed out from seventh place two laps before the end while pursuing the Aston Martin driver. Losing control of his car through Turn 6, Russell hit the wall at Turn 7 before bouncing back onto the track.
This incident triggered virtual safety car conditions, with Carlos Sainz leading Charles Leclerc to a Ferrari 1-2 finish. Max Verstappen’s earlier retirement due to a right-rear brake fire added to the drama of the race.
The stewards investigated an incident involving Fernando Alonso, who was alleged to have changed his driving style, leading to Russell’s accident. After a thorough examination, the stewards determined that Alonso’s driving constituted an “extraordinary” action under Article 33.4 of the sporting regulations.
Consequently, Alonso received a 20-second reprimand, dropping him from sixth to eighth place and incurring three penalty points on his super license. Alonso explained that he adjusted his approach to the corner to improve his exit, while Russell argued that this maneuver was erratic and caught him off-guard.
The stewards acknowledged the significant alterations in Alonso’s driving but couldn’t definitively conclude his intent. However, they deemed his actions potentially dangerous given the high-speed nature of the track, resulting in the penalty.