Fernando Alonso avoids British Grand Prix penalty after Silverstone summons

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso has avoided a penalty for the British Grand Prix after being summoned to the stewards’ room for Aston Martin allegedly working on his car in the fast lane of the pits.

The Spaniard qualified 10th for Sunday’s race at Silverstone but before he could plan for tomorrow, he had to go to the stewards’ room for what race control said was an alleged breach of Article 34.4 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Fernando Alonso avoids penalty after trip to Silverstone stewards room

That particular regulation is concerned with working in the fast lane which race control noted regarding Alonso at 15:17 (during FP1) and that could bring a penalty for the Spaniard.

Article 34.4 states: “The pit lane will be divided into two lanes, the lane closest to the pit wall will be designated the “fast lane” and may be no more than 3.5 metres wide, the lane closest to the garages will be designated the “inner lane”.

“Other than when cars are at the end of the pit lane in accordance with Articles 43.3. 44.2 and 57, the inner lane is the only area where any work can be carried out on a car. However, no work may be carried out in the fast lane if it is likely to hinder other cars attempting to leave the pit lane.”

But the stewards deemed the incident not worthy of a penalty.

Their explanation said: “Prior to the re-start of Q1, Car 14 drove from its Garage and its front left wheel was
placed in the Fast Lane.

“According to the Race Director’s Notes Item 11, this by definition places the car in the Fast Lane. Article 34.4 specifies that except for some specific exceptions which do not apply in this case, it is only permitted to work on a car in the inner lane.

“Video evidence clearly shows team members placing a jack under the rear of Car 14 and moving its location. This is deemed to be working on the car.

“However it appeared from video evidence that it is common practice for team members to move cars when in the Fast Lane under a red flag situation, for a variety of reasons and the regulations are currently silent on this matter.

“In this particular case the action of the team did not delay the session, impede another car nor gain any sporting advantage.

“Accordingly the Stewards determine to not apply a penalty.

Alonso and a team representative will meet with the stewards at 5pm track time.

His team-mate Lance Stroll also met with the stewards for allegedly exiting the pit lane while the red light was on at 15:10:32 and was handed a reprimand.

They said: “The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 18 (Lance Stroll), team representative and reviewed video and in-car video evidence.

“Car 18 pulled out of its pit which was located at the far end of the Pit Lane, and 0.8 seconds prior to crossing the Pit Exit line, the red light was displayed.

“In mitigation of penalty the Stewards considered the short time available for the driver to react, the fact that the track was red-flagged anyway so no possible advantage could be gained from Car 18 completing the lap, and the fact that the Pit Lane was wet and the Car was on slick tyres, so possibly would have stopped over the exit line.

“However it is the driver’s responsibility to always comply with the signal at the Pit Exit therefore the penalty of a Reprimand is imposed. This is the minimum penalty recommended in the Penalty Guidelines.”

It is Stroll’s second reprimand of the season.