In Saturday’s sprint race, Fernando Alonso received a 10-second penalty for a minor collision with Carlos Sainz, leading to his retirement due to a puncture. The following day, Lance Stroll faced a similar penalty for crashing into Daniel Ricciardo’s car under safety car conditions, resulting in damage to both Ricciardo’s and Oscar Piastri’s cars.
Team principal Andreas Krack criticized the swift penalties, particularly deeming Stroll’s as “very harsh” and suggesting a pattern of tough treatment towards Alonso and Stroll by the stewards.
Krack highlighted previous instances where Alonso and Stroll faced penalties, such as Alonso’s penalty for early braking in Australia and Stroll’s first-lap contact in Bahrain, which went unpunished for the other driver involved.
He expressed frustration over perceived inconsistencies in steward decisions and hinted at a feeling of unfair treatment based on the drivers’ reputations. Krack emphasized the need for consistency and suggested that faster cars, like Max Verstappen’s, often avoid penalties by staying ahead of potential incidents.
The incident involving Stroll in Bahrain, where he was spun around on the first lap by Nico Hulkenberg, was cited as an example of leniency typically shown towards such incidents. Krack indicated a belief that Alonso and Stroll might be receiving harsher treatment than warranted, possibly due to preconceived notions about their driving styles.
He suggested that the discussion around driving standards and penalties at the beginning of the year might be influencing steward decisions but questioned the fairness of such actions, particularly in comparison to other incidents on the track that went unpunished.
Krack’s remarks reflect a sense of frustration within the team over what they perceive as inconsistent and potentially unfair steward decisions. He pointed out instances where similar incidents resulted in different outcomes, leading to a feeling of injustice.
Despite acknowledging the human element involved in stewarding decisions, Krack emphasized the need for fairness and consistency in applying penalties. The comments shed light on the ongoing debate within Formula 1 about driving standards and the role of stewards in enforcing regulations while maintaining fairness and competitiveness in the sport.
