F1 clarifies pitstop penalties after Fernando Alonso confusion
Formula One officials confirmed on Friday that teams can no longer touch their cars with jacks during penalty pitstops in the wake of the Fernando Alonso controversy at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin driver Alonso was handed a five-second penalty for an error on the starting grid at Jeddah and then another for failing to serve it properly – the rear jack being in contact with his car before the five seconds were up.
The additional penalty saw the twice world champion demoted to fourth from third but stewards later rowed back on the decision after Aston Martin successfully appealed against it, putting Alonso back on the podium.
With teams banned from working on cars during penalty pitstops, the governing FIA issued a directive to clear up the matter.
“For clarity and until fu...