Fernando Alonso: Alpine driver questions Formula 1 direction after US GP penalty

Alpine operator Fernando Alonso, right, fought backmost from a 180mph clang to decorativeness seventh astatine the United States GP successful Austin, Texas

Fernando Alonso says a punishment helium received successful the United States Grand Prix raises questions astir the absorption of the athletics nether governing assemblage the FIA.

Alonso wrote connected Instagram: "It is an important time for the athletics arsenic this determination volition dictate if we are going successful the close direction."

Alonso said his station was successful effect to messages of enactment since the penalty.

He thanked those who had contacted him connected societal media, adding: "It's 1 of those uncommon times successful athletics that I consciousness we are each connected the aforesaid leafage and stock the aforesaid sentiment towards rules and regulations."

Alonso said aft the contention that helium considered his thrust 1 of the champion of his career, aft helium crashed astatine 180mph, his car did a wheelie, deed a wall, helium pitted for a caller beforehand wing, resumed astatine the backmost and climbed to seventh contempt damaged aerodynamic parts.

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The two-time champion has questioned the decision-making of officials connected a fig of occasions this year, and his frustrations astir the inconsistency of policing of enactment connected way are shared by the bulk of his chap drivers.

At the Spanish Grand Prix, helium accused the FIA of "incompetence" and lacking cognition of racing.

Criticism of the FIA's moving of F1 has been a taxable this year, and the US Grand Prix was the contention aft the governing assemblage angered drivers by allowing a betterment conveyance connected track successful conditions of mediocre visibility during dense rain.

Alpine's entreaty volition beryllium heard astatine 18:00 Mexico City clip (12:00 BST) connected 27 October earlier this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix.

The squad person questioned the US GP stewards' determination to let a protestation by the Haas squad contempt it being posted aft the permitted clip bounds had expired.

The stewards said successful their determination to manus Alonso a 30-second punishment connected Sunday that the Spaniard's car was successful an unsafe information due to the fact that helium drove it for immoderate clip with a damaged helping mirror, and past without 1 erstwhile it fell off.

Haas pointed retired their cars person antecedently been fixed the black-and-orange informing emblem - demanding a car is pitted for repairs - connected 3 occasions successful akin situations this season.

At nary constituent during the contention were Alpine asked by officials to pit the car and region the mirror, contempt calls from Haas to contention control.

The stewards' ruling suggests that immoderate car missing a rear-view reflector aft an incidental volition beryllium forced to discontinue successful future.

There are besides questions astir the consistency of decision-making, aft stewards rejected a akin protestation by Haas against Sergio Perez's Red Bull.

Perez drove immoderate laps with a damaged beforehand wing, portion of which past fell disconnected the car portion helium was running.

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