This is how Aston Martin F1 team boss Mike Krack feels, frustrated by the inconsistency in penalties.
Both Aston Martin drivers were sanctioned during the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Fernando Alonso received a ten-second time penalty for contact with Carlos Sainz during the sprint – which was irrelevant due to his pit stop – and three penalty points, while Lance Stroll rear-ended Daniel Ricciardo during the safety car restart in Sunday’s race.
In relation to all of this, Mike Krack, the Aston F1 team boss, feels that the inspectors are quite inconsistent this year as well, citing Alonso’s penalty in Australia and the fact that at the season opener in Bahrain, Nico Hülkenberg got away with bumping into Stroll after the start:
“We got a penalty in the sprint, we got it in Melbourne, we got it now with Lance. Last time in Melbourne, the car in front was penalized without any contact. This time, however, it’s the one coming from behind. Lance, on the other hand, was spun in the first round in Bahrain, after which he had to cut through the field, but the person who caused the collision was not penalized.”
“So we’re not very consistent, that’s my feeling. Frustrating. On the other hand, everyone is human, everyone tries to do their best. The best recipe is to have the fastest car and then hang around. Max has no such punishments. So it’s up to us to do that.”
When Autorsport specifically asked Krack whether, based on the above, he feels that the stewards treat Alonso and Stroll more harshly because of their bad reputation, the Aston boss responded: “It’s interesting that you ask this, because it seems to you this is your feeling too. I think there was a general conversation at the beginning of the year about driving standards and tougher penalties.”
“But we want action on the sprints, don’t we? And there was a sale! I think it was a great race, even if we were in the dirt. Then we spent hours at the stewards again… then you feel it’s not fair. Maybe we’ll sleep for two and we’ll see it differently.”
“But then there was another incident in the race where a car was pinned at Turn 6 and there was no penalty. Or there were the two Ferraris who also pushed each other down – there was no penalty. What about Fernando? Ten seconds at a time…”
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