Alonso: F1 rivals driving beyond their abilities in crash-filled Baku qualifying

Fernando Alonso has called on his Formula 1 rivals to "calm down a little bit" after qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was halted with red flags on four separate occasions due to five different crashes.

Connor McDonagh

05 Jun 2021

(L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team and Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing in qualifying parc ferme. — (L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with Fernando Alonso (ESP)…
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Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi caused the first two red flag stoppages in Q1, with both drivers crashing at Turn 15.

Daniel Ricciardo caused the third red flag in the dying stages of Q2 with a shunt at Turn 4, while Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz caused the fourth and final red flag with crashes at the same corner at the end of Q3.

Alonso doesn’t believe it’s fair that drivers who crashed out in qualifying are allowed to take the grid positions they qualified in.

"It was messy, it was difficult to get into the rhythm, into the pace, but it was the same for everybody," Alonso told Sky Sports F1. "I think we didn't use all the potential of the car because every time we put a new set of tyres, we didn't use it. [It is] unfair probably that the people that crashed, they repair the car and they start in that position tomorrow.

"All the other cars, we are in parc ferme until tomorrow, we cannot touch the car, so why they can change all the parts that they caused the red flag? Maybe one day we are in that position and we take advantage of the rule. As I said, let’s see tomorrow what we can do."

The two-time champion doesn’t believe it’s comparable to Monaco last time out, where Charles Leclerc’s crash in the principality handed him top spot.

"But here [unlike Monaco] it’s half of the grid," Alonso explained. "I think the people need to calm down a little bit and drive 98% in a street circuit because if you crash and you start last in the race, maybe you don't drive over your possibilities.

"And I think today with so many people driving over the possibilities of their car or their abilities."

Alonso is set to start Sunday’s race from eighth, moving up a place thanks to Lando Norris’ three-place grid penalty.

Assessing his chances on race day, Alonso added: "I think we have a good car, it has been good all weekend, we've been always in the top 10 every session and we feel comfortable. Here, you can overtake if you have the pace, so we need to take care of the tyres - that will be the hot topic for tomorrow I guess.

"But we have reasonable confidence to take good points."