Formula 1

Alonso: Rivals driving ‘beyond their ability’ in Baku crashes

by Matt Beer
2 min read

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Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has urged his fellow drivers to “calm down” after an incident-filled qualifying session in Baku featured four red flags for five different crashes.

The first qualifying segment was disrupted by two separate stoppages following crashes at the Turn 15 left-hander for Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi.

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo then crashed at Turn 3 in the next session and the final pole position shootout was prematurely ended by incidents for Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz Jr at the same place as Ricciardo had crashed.

This interrupted the final flying laps of the majority of drivers – including Alpine’s Alonso and championship leader Max Verstappen.

It left Alonso ninth on the grid – his third Q3 appearance of his F1 comeback – but the Spaniard was frustrated that the drivers who caused the red flags can repair their cars and keep their positions on the grid for the race.

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“A little bit unfair probably that people that crash, they repair the car and they start in that position tomorrow,” Alonso told Sky.

“All the other cars [that didn’t crash], we are in parc ferme until tomorrow in the race. We cannot touch the car.

“So why can they change all the parts when they caused the red flag?

“But maybe one day we’re in that position and we’ll take advantage of that rule.”

Alonso was frustrated by the errors from “half of the grid” and accused others of driving beyond the limit of their car or their own ability.

“I think people need to calm down a bit and drive 98% in a street circuit,” Alonso added.

“If you crash and start last in the race, maybe you don’t drive over your possibilities.

“I think today so many people were driving over the possibility of their car or their ability.”

Alonso says he has “reasonable confidence” that he can score points tomorrow – he currently sits 13th in the drivers’ championship with five points.

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