Double F1 world champion, Fernando Alonso, could only secure the 15th starting position for the shorter Saturday race due to an inability to set a time in Q2, a result of a red flag prompted by his teammate Lance Stroll’s crash.
Alonso was compelled to stay on the track for an additional lap before switching from his wet tyres to intermediates, due to his position behind Stroll in a rain-affected contest. However, in the third lap of the curtailed 11-lap race, Alonso lost control of his AMR23 car, skidding into the gravel at Pouhon while tailing Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas and forcing his retirement from the 16th spot.
Alonso took complete responsibility for the accident, attributing it to a loss of downforce while closely following Nico into Pouhon. The Spanish driver touched the white line, causing the loss of control over his car.
Finding grip, he said, and estimating grip levels at each turn was challenging. It was incredibly slippery, and he acknowledged the error as his own. Aston Martin confirmed that his vehicle did not sustain any damage despite a slight brush with the barriers.
Hulkenberg humorously suggested that Alonso’s misfortune was “karma” for “enjoying my turbulence”. This followed a clash between the two on the second lap when Alonso re-entered the track post-pit.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR23, Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT04, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C43
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / F1 Flow Images
Alonso was seen moving towards the left of the track, forcing Hulkenberg to decelerate to prevent veering onto the wet grass.
Also read:
Piastri admitted he was “no match” for Verstappen in Spa F1 sprint race
Verstappen backs “safer” Red Bull pit call in Spa F1 sprint
F1 Belgian GP: Verstappen emerges victor in shortened sprint race from Piastri, Gasly
Race officials summoned Alonso regarding his assertive re-entry and issued a warning.
Upon examining the onboard footage, the stewards remarked: “Alonso was departing the pits and shifted to the left, resulting in car 27 needing to avoid a collision.
“Alonso stated he couldn’t see behind him at that time and that he had always driven to the far left of the track at that point to optimize forward visibility.
“While the Stewards acknowledge these points, in this case, moving from right to left, slower than the on-track cars, risked a collision.”
For the full Sunday Grand Prix, Alonso will commence from the ninth position.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fernando Alonso’s Spa F1 sprint spin
What happened to Fernando Alonso during the Spa F1 sprint?
During the Spa F1 sprint, Fernando Alonso, starting 15th, lost control of his car on the third lap of the 11-lap race and spun into the gravel at Pouhon. This occurred while Alonso was chasing Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas. As a result, he retired from the race while in the 16th position.
Who was involved in the incident with Alonso during the Spa F1 sprint?
Nico Hulkenberg was involved in an incident with Fernando Alonso. The pair came to blows on lap two when Alonso re-entered the track after pitting, prompting a joke from Hulkenberg that Alonso’s spin-out was “karma”.
What was Alonso’s explanation for his spin during the Spa F1 sprint?
Alonso explained that he was closely following Nico Hulkenberg into Pouhon when he lost downforce, touched the white line, and lost control of his car. He acknowledged that finding grip and estimating grip levels at each corner was challenging due to slippery conditions, and took full responsibility for the mistake.
What were the consequences for Alonso’s aggressive return to the track after pitting?
Race stewards issued a warning to Alonso for his aggressive return to the track after pitting. They noted that his move from right to left, while slower than the cars that had remained on track, risked a collision.
What is Alonso’s starting position for the Sunday Grand Prix?
After the incident during the Spa F1 sprint, Alonso is set to start the full Sunday Grand Prix from the ninth position.
More about Fernando Alonso’s Spa F1 sprint spin
- Spa F1 Sprint Race Results
- Fernando Alonso’s Career Statistics
- Nico Hulkenberg’s Career Statistics
- Detailed Report on the Incident
- Aston Martin Official Statement
5 comments
That comment by Hulkenberg was epic! 😀 “Karma” indeed. Makes you wonder if there’s some history there…
Man, Alonso really had it tough in Spa, didnt he? Thats racing though – some days you’re on fire, other days you’re just trying to keep it on the track…
Gotta give it to Alonso though, he always takes it on the chin. it’s not easy admiting when you’re at fault, specially when you’re a two-time world champ.
these conditions are always tough to predict. Slippery track, changing tires, it’s tricky. Alonso’s incident could have happened to any of the drivers.
Even with the spin, starting 9th on Sunday isn’t bad! Shows the kind of driver Alonso is. I’m curious how he’ll perform…