Oxford Dictionary Came to Alpine’s Rescue After Fernando Alonso’s US GP Sentence

A post-race 30-second time penalty at the United States Grand Prix saw Fernando Alonso drop from P7 to P15. The decision came in after Haas lodged a complaint with the FIA against Alonso for driving a damaged car. While the FIA earlier ruled in favor of Haas, they have overturned the decision following a protest by Alpine.

On lap 22 of the race, Alonso crashed at the back of Lance Stroll, which forced the latter to retire from the race. While Alonso’s car was fit enough to continue the race after a front wing change, on lap 49, his front-right mirror fell off. Alonso continued the race and eventually finished P7.

FIA overturns its decision on the Fernando Alonso penalty

Haas lodged an official complaint against Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso for driving damaged cars after the race. While the FIA rejected the complaint against Perez, it accepted the one against Alonso and handed the Spaniard a 30-second time penalty. Alpine quickly lodged their protest against the decision and the ruling body’s verdict favored them.

Haas lodged the complaint after the stipulated 30 minutes- a point that Alpine raised in their appeal. Haas explained the reason behind the delay was that an FIA official gave them 1 hour to lodge the complaint. As per rules, a team is allowed to lodge a complaint later than 30 minutes only where lodging a complaint within the stipulated time is “impossible.”

Protesting on the technicality of what the word “impossible” implied, Alpine referred to the Oxford dictionary. In their official protest, Alpine submitted, “The word ‘impossible’ sets a ‘very high bar’ – the Oxford Dictionary defines it as being something that cannot happen or be achieved and that, in this case, there was nothing preventing Haas from lodging the protest in time.”

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The tactic helped them as FIA in its ruling wrote, “The stewards accept the argument of Alpine that the word ‘impossible’ indeed sets a very high bar and that, in hindsight, that very high bar was not met in this case.”

The boiling contention for 4th in the constructors’ standings

Red Bull won the constructors’ championship after Max Verstappen registered his 13th win of the season at the US GP. Ferrari and Mercedes look set in 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the constructors’ standings. However, the battle for 4th refuses to cool down.

After FIA’s earlier ruling, the gap between Alpine (4th) and McLaren (5th) was reduced to 6 points. The updated ruling reinstates Alonso in P7 which will give him and Alpine more points.

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The gap between Alpine and McLaren has now widened. It may still not be a significant gap, but given that we only have 3 more races to go, McLaren will have to be on top of their game.

Daniel Ricciardo, who has so far failed to contribute much to his team’s points, needs to regain his form. Is the game still on for McLaren? Or has Alpine done enough to keep them at bay? Fans still have a lot to follow in the remaining season.