Australian Grand Prix, Stevenson: “Excellent Fia Management” | FormulaPassion – Formula 1

Australian Grand Prix: endless controversy

Formula 1 is about to end a long layover that started from the last time Australian Grand Prix, which did not completely extinguish the controversies that arose after a controversial race to say the least: three red flags, two restarts from pit stops, one last lap behind the safety car, thus without giving the drivers a chance to overtake. Most of the decisions you made racing direction Many enthusiasts did not consider them necessary, not counting the opinion of the teams and drivers, but there were also those who defended the work of the commissioners.

Stevenson defends the FIA

Among them is the sporting director of Aston Martin, Andy Stephenson. The team that, moreover, was particularly involved in contacts and accidents during the second restart from stoppages, first Fernando Alonso (hit by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, then penalized with a 5-second penalty) and later with a penalty kick Lance Picnic (He finished on the run in Round 4). Despite these episodes, along with several others that prompted Race Direction to boycott the race, the Stewards themselves chose to reclaim the classification before the start, with Alonso managing to squeak out of third place despite making contact at the start with the Ferrari countryman. Decisions Stephenson shared with others in other moments of the race: Australian Grand Prix It ended in the only way possible – He explained in a statement carried by the official website of Aston Martin – It is clearly written in the regulations. We had a conversation with the commissioners before everything happened, letting them know our interpretation of the rules, and they told us what decision they were going to make, and that their interpretation of the rules was the same. There was some uncertainty, however The FIA ​​did well“.

Learn from past mistakes

Stephenson then focused on the controversy that erupted after the completion selection The last lap behind the safety carWhich according to the 55-year-old Briton was the result of his experiences over the past two years: “They have learned from things that have happened in the past few years and They managed the Australian Grand Prix excellently – he added – They are the only ones who have all the information, and people must remember this. None of those who disagreed with the red flag in Australia had all the information about the condition of the crash barriers, what was happening on the track and where the safety cars and medics were. Nobody knows about it, except for the FIA. We have to trust the FIA ​​because they have all the information. When a race goes well it is because everyone has been good, and when it goes badly it is because the FIA ​​is at fault. I feel sorry for them, the commissioners have this responsibility and they handle it very well.”

Study the regulation

In conclusion, Stephenson also pointed out Appeals made by Ferrari and Haas, respectively to the Alonso-Sainz case and the access order, with the federation rejecting the two protests. In all of this, the sporting director also mentioned what happened in Kingdom of Saudi Arabiawith the penalty first taken and then deducted from Alonso as a result of a 5-second penalty initially deemed incorrectly served by the Spaniard: “Those moments are tough, but they are right up my alley – explained – Because I can rely on all my knowledge and experience. You can appeal based on previous experience and previous created. When it’s not in season, I watch replays endlessly. It drove my wife crazy, but I do it to remind myself of what happened and the precedents set, so that I can be prepared for the difficult moments we will inevitably face next season. Obviously, I prepare a lot with the sports regulationsYou have to know them well. You get to choose your battles, you can’t always listen to the FIA. Sometimes decisions don’t go your way, but you have to accept it. When it comes to an obvious enough issue or something you can capitalize on, that’s when you fight on your side. You should have every ounce of information supporting your case ready to be submitted to the FIA. You cannot appeal a decision on a whim. If you start crying wolf, the FIA ​​won’t listen to you.”