Fernando Alonso slams lack of Mexico GP start penalties: "FIA is looking to the other side"

Fernando Alonso criticised the FIA's handling of the Mexico Grand Prix start

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has called out the FIA stewards for “looking to the other side” after a chaotic start to the Mexico Grand Prix saw multiple drivers go straight into Turns 2 and 3.

The Spanish driver, who ultimately retired from the race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, claimed that the drivers who left the track, including Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson, gained several places over drivers who remained within the white lines.

“We made up some places, we were aggressive into Turn 1 and everything was looking good,” he told F1 TV. “But I think a couple of cars went just straight in Turn 2 and 3 and then they rejoined like three or four cars in front of me. So it’s a little bit unfair, I would say. It’s the second time in a row that on the first lap in the first corner, the FIA is looking to the other side. So, lesson learned.”

He added to ESPN: "It's allowed to cut when you can't go through the track, sometimes you have to make an escape manoeuvre to avoid touching, that's allowed. What you can't do is to go flat out and gain two or three positions, because normally you have to give them back.

"But well, surely the FIA had more information, they saw that it was not necessary to give them back and we will try to take advantage of the next time there is a similar situation, hopefully we will be on the other side. But well, always trying to do our best."

Alonso wasn't alone in his criticism of the lack of penalties for the race start. Mercedes' George Russell also called out the decision.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images

“I don't understand how three drivers can cut the first corner and just continue in the position they entered,” he told Sky Sports F1. “It's like, allowing you to risk everything, but you just have a get-out-of-jail-free card if you get it wrong."

He added: “You know, we've seen it almost every year we've been here. I think it was Carlos [Sainz] last year, Charles the year before, Lewis 10 years ago. It's like a lawnmower racing.

“Something needs to change there. Because as I said, if you can just send it down the outside, you can either make it stick or you just cut the grass and you return in the position you were in before. That's not really how it should be.”