Track limits drove everyone crazy — riders, teams, fans, journalists and TV commentators — in the last one GP d’Austria. Even 47 laps canceled in Friday’s qualifying, a similar situation for the Sprint Shooutout qualifying. But the FIA outdid itself in the race, canceling 83 laps due to irregularities. Few exempt. Hamilton was among the first to receive a 5-second penalty, followed by Tsunodabut the ax then fell on the riders of the Alpine and finally also up Carlos Sainz, who had to serve the 5 seconds at the moment of the second pit stop. The word ridicule stood out strongly on social networks already during the match and after the appeal of theAston Martin the controversies exploded over the further sanctions, which led to talk, too much and badly, of the rule of the Track Limits.
Alonso, with the magic of Aston Martin earns a position
Aston Martin’s protest led to the revolution in the standings, which led to the expense in Hamilton, Gasly and above all to Sainz, who has lost the beauty of two positions. Those of Aston Martin are perhaps the ones who know the regulation and a radio team best Fernando Alonso, on lap 66, made it clear that the English team’s strategy was ready well before the end of the GP. The Spaniard was sixth and 8 seconds behind the Norris when from the box they tell him to push hard. The two-time world champion replies: “I don’t understand. We are far away”. The engineer’s response was: “Push as hard as you can.” Fernando, who is a great champion, gained four seconds in five laps. A couple of hours later he gained a position, to the detriment of his friend Sainz.
Stevenson: “If you scream, the FIA won’t listen to you. Rules to know to the letter”
The chaotic post-race that led to the examination of over 1,200 ‘suspicious’ laps was produced by the appeal of Aston Martin, which for the second time this season has presented and won an appeal at the end of a GP. Aston Martin’s sporting director, Andy Stevenson, is well aware of all the folds of the regulation and on the strength of this he presented himself before the marshals, and once again won. Because Alonso gained one position over Sainz, while Stroll remained ninth. Fernando thus increased the margin on his pursuers (he is third) and the team responded well to Ferrari and got closer to Mercedes (second) in the Constructors’ Championship. Stevenson after the appeal victory explained: “When you file an appeal you must have all the information that supports your case to present to the FIA. You can never appeal a decision on a whim. If you start screaming, the FIA will never listen to you And, obviously, I prepare myself with the Sporting Regulations. You have to know it to the letter.”
