Fernando Alonso is to write to FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem over his fears that stewards are biased against Spanish drivers.

As his team's right of review relating to his penalty in Shanghai was being dismissed, the Aston Martin driver was clearly angry that Lewis Hamilton had escaped punishment for his role in the first lap incident that saw Lando Norris and Lance Stroll eliminated.

As the field entered the right-hander that is Turn 1, Hamilton went for what he saw as a gap on the inside of Alonso. However, he hit the Spaniard who had already hit his Aston Martin teammate, who subsequently hit the innocent Norris.

While Alonso accused Hamilton of entering the corner like a "bull", the stewards were of the opinion that "at least three collisions occurred".

The first between Alonso and his teammate, then between Hamilton and Alonso and finally between Stroll and Norris.

"While it appeared to us that the incidents began with Alonso and Stroll, the sudden and fast arrival of Hamilton contributed to the various collisions," said the stewards, who opted to take no further action.

"However, we were not able to identify one or more drivers wholly or predominantly to blame for the various collisions or any one of them. Also keeping in mind that this was in Turn 1 of Lap 1 where greater latitude is given to drivers for incidents, we took no further action."

"I have to open the gap because Hamilton was coming from the inside without control of the car," said Alonso, who suggested that the British driver is treated differently. "If I do that for sure I get the penalty.

"I guess they won't decide anything because he's not Spanish," he added. "But I think he ruined the race for a few people."

Subsequently asked if he truly believes that certain stewards are biased - which certainly appeared to be the reaction on (always to be trusted) social media, the Spaniard replied: "I do feel that nationality matters, and I will speak with Mohammed (ben Sulayem), with the FIA, whatever.

"I need to make sure there is not anything wrong with my nationality or anything that can influence any decision, not only for me also for the future generation of the Spanish drivers they need to be protected."

Other than being penalised in China for clashing with Carlos Sainz - the penalty for which Aston Martin had sought a right of review - Alonso was penalised in Melbourne for "potentially dangerous" driving, after slowing down unnecessarily whilst being pursued by George Russell.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 07/05/2024 15:03

"Subjectivity. No rules. OK?
Ask any Copper about witness statements. Events are rarely seen the same way by all witnesses.

The fun of all this & why poor old Massa is barking up the wrong tree, is that we'll never know what *might* have happened *if* x, y, or even z happened instead.

[irony alert] As for anti-Spanish bias? Nah it's YOU they don't like Nando...."

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2. Posted by FIRSTINTO 1, 06/05/2024 1:58

"
The way I saw it after viewing all the replays was Alonso watching Hamilton overdriving into turn one and jinked to the left to avoid getting taken out. The problem was that Sir Lance decided to jink to the right at exactly the same moment for some unknown reason, causing contact with Alonso. Alonso was the meat in the sandwich."

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 05/05/2024 18:32

"I think Hamilton’s braking strategy at turn 1 included relying on a competitor’s car being there to slow him down! There was no way he was going to make that apex. I notice he tried Senna’s “if you don’t go for a gap, you’re no longer a racing driver” excuse. All very entertaining, unless you were in an Aston Martin. "

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4. Posted by Mad Matt, 05/05/2024 16:36

"While I would say that it was a bit stupid of Lewis to barrel in like that the two Astons appeared to already be having their own accident.

I wonder if Fernando has noticed that the Carlos he was penalised for hitting is also Spanish?"

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 05/05/2024 13:31

"Without the benefit of hindsight\replays, what I saw was Hamilton on the inside line & Alonso crashing into Stroll, slowing dramatically & being forced into a collision with Hamilton.

Only goes to show how much of this life is subjective...."

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Alonso fears anti-Spanish bias

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