Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur commented on Fernando Alonso’s borderline move during the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix when the Aston Martin driver re-entered the track dangerously right in front of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver was forced to maneuver around the Spaniard on the outside, with Frederic Vasseur needling Fernando Alonso, suggesting that if the roles were reversed, there would have been loud complaints over the radio.
Fred Vasseur taunts Fernando Alonso after re-entering the track dangerously in front of Charles Leclerc
“If it had happened the other way around, I believe Fernando would have loudly claimed over the radio that his life was in danger and so on,” Fred Vasseur stated after the race. “I think it was definitely excessive to re-enter from nowhere and cross the track at 90 degrees, but it’s not my decision.” – the French manager pointed out.
In an attempt to climb back and fight for the podium against George Russell and the two McLarens, Fernando Alonso clearly pushed the limits in turn 2, going off track and engaging in a bit of rally driving with his AMR23, trying to get out of the gravel as quickly as possible.
However, the Spaniard re-entered the track with great speed, behaving as if there was no one behind him. As he merged back onto the track, Charles Leclerc appeared behind him, and the Monegasque had to maneuver around the Asturian on the outside to avoid a potential collision.
In a post-race interview, Fernando Alonso provided his own account of the incident: “Obviously, I made a mistake in turn 2. I ended up in the gravel, lost one position to George, and one to Charles.” – he explained.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
“We could have done better in terms of positions in the end, but the positives are that I felt more competitive this weekend compared to the last few races. We were only ninth in Monza, without points in Singapore, ninth in Japan, and here, we were in the mix. So, I hope that in the future, in the next two races, we can be motivated.” – the former Ferrari driver added.
The stewards chose to investigate the incident after the race. However, the Spaniard was spared and received only a reprimand for re-entering the track imprudently.
Source: f1ingenerale
Leave a Reply