John N
Fernando Alonso’s penalty in last weekend’s United States Grand Prix has been overturned after Alpine succeeded in their bid to have the Haas protest that led to it dismissed.
On Sunday night in Austin, Haas protested because Alonso – who took the flag in seventh place – had finished the race in a car in an unsafe condition following his high-speed collision with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
Alonso was given a 30-second post-race penalty, which meant the two-time champion was demoted to 15th place in the classified results, losing him six world championship points.
Alpine disputed Haas’s protest because it had been lodged too late – 24 minutes past the specified deadline – but the FIA concluded in Mexico City that “there is no ability or right for any party to “protest” a decision of the Stewards nor against a summons to a hearing.”
However, Alpine then asked for a review in light of new evidence. A further hearing on Thursday evening ultimately resulted in Haas’s original protest being deemed inadmissible as the team could have submitted it within the required time limits.
It means Alonso’s seventh place and six points from Austin will be reinstated.
