,regionOfInterest=(600,447)&hash=45a44e237595af9c4f179d24a2088aca788031cb21870c0fd01b472de65eba94 "Fernando Alonso Slams Alexander Albon After Austin F1 Collision")
Fernando Alonso Criticizes Alexander Albon After Austin Collision
Fernando Alonso finished 16th at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, a result the Aston Martin driver attributed to significant car damage sustained during a first-lap collision with Williams pilot Alexander Albon. According to a report by Focus, Alonso estimated the damage cost him at least half a second per lap, preventing him from competing for a potential top-ten finish.
Damage Analysis and Race Impact
The collision occurred at Turn 11 during the opening lap of the race. Alonso reported that the impact tore away part of the AMR26’s underbody, leaving the car in a severely compromised state. “The car is destroyed,” Alonso stated, noting that he had inspected the vehicle in the parc fermé after the race. He expressed surprise that the car remained functional enough to complete the event, though he was forced to finish behind his teammate, Lance Stroll.
Alonso criticized the standard of driving in the rear of the pack, specifically targeting Albon’s role in the incident. “The quality of drivers in the back third of the field is simply extremely low, as we saw today with Alex,” Alonso said.
🔴 Fernando Alonso n’a pas été tendre avec Alexander Albon à l’issue du Grand Prix des États-Unis 😬L’Espagnol a été impliqué dans un contact avec le pilote thaïlandais et n’a pas hésité à s’exprimer sur cet incident :💬 « Quand on part à l’arrière, ce risque est toujours… pic.twitter.com/1oNiQ2Q7ur
Alexander Albon’s Perspective on the Incident
Alexander Albon, who finished the race behind the Aston Martin, provided a different account of the opening lap. He explained that a third car—Haas driver Esteban Ocon—was positioned to the outside of the turn, which forced a tight squeeze between the three vehicles. “I was even further inside of Fernando. Albon also noted that his own Williams car sustained damage during the encounter. He reported driving with a broken front wing for the duration of the Grand Prix. In the closing stages, Albon attempted to hold up the Aston Martin drivers to help his teammate, Carlos Sainz, gain a competitive advantage, though both Aston Martins eventually bypassed him.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the stewards penalize either driver for the first-lap contact?
The provided reports do not mention any formal penalties issued by the FIA stewards to either Fernando Alonso or Alexander Albon regarding the Turn 11 incident.
How much time did Alonso lose due to the damage?
Alonso stated that the damage to his car’s underbody resulted in a loss of at least half a second per lap throughout the race.
What was the final finishing order between the two drivers?
Despite the damage, Fernando Alonso finished in 16th place, ahead of Alexander Albon.
