Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin Aramco after qualifying ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Fernando Alonso found Max Verstappen’s penalty during the Qatar GP qualifying odd, noting that George Russell was equally slow on his cooldown lap. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, after the race, the Aston Martin driver expressed satisfaction with the overall stewarding and race direction over the weekend but questioned the consistency of the penalty.
Verstappen was penalized for failing to meet the maximum delta time on his cooldown lap, as per the race director’s instructions. In the post-race press conference, the Dutchman suggested that Russell had played a role in influencing the decision against him.
With Rui Marques stepping in as the new race director for only his second race after Niels Wittich’s dismissal, the Qatar GP weekend presented a challenging test. Marques simultaneously managed his previous role as F2 race director, given that the junior series was also in action in Qatar. Despite the complexity, Alonso empathized with Marques and praised the FIA for handling the demanding weekend well.
