Alonso given qualifying time penalty

04/08/2006
NEWS STORY

Current World Champion Fernando Alonso has been handed a 2s time penalty for tomorrow's qualifying for the Hungarian GP following two incidents in today's free practice sessions.

Firstly Alonso, having first gesticulated to Robert Doornbos, feeling that the Dutchman had blocked him whilst on a fast lap, then appeared to to 'brake test' the Red Bull test driver, weaving in front of him on the entry to Turn One during the second free practice session. Subsequently, in a second incident Alonso was seen to overtake under yellow flags right at the end of the session.

After talking to both drivers and looking at video evidence, race stewards issued a statement indicating that the Renault driver will have two seconds added to his fastest lap in each phase of Saturday's qualifying, a second for each offence.

"Alonso having thus expressed his discontent with Doornbos then entered turn one with Doornbos following him and caused his car to slow to an unusual and unexpected degree," said the stewards in their statement, "causing Doornbos to take avoiding action. The stewards regard Alonso's actions as unnecessary, unacceptable and dangerous."

This comes at a time when Ferrari and Michael Schumacher are resurgent in the championship and at a circuit where grid position is crucial as overtaking is rare - four of the last five winners of the Hungarian Grand Prix have started from pole position. It is unlikely that the Spaniard will make it into the second phase of qualifying.

Alonso leads Michael Schumacher by 11 points in the championship with six races remaining.

To check out our Hungary free practice gallery, click here

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Published: 04/08/2006
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