P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The penultimate lap incident between Fernando Alonso and George Russell at the Australian Grand Prix has sparked considerable debate amongst their rivals
There has been heated debate among F1 drivers ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix due to an incident involving Fernando Alonso, who was criticized for his potentially dangerous driving in the last race in Australia, resulting in a post-race penalty. George Russell, the affected driver, agreed with the stewards’ decision, stating it could have led to further consequences if not penalized. Nearly all drivers shared their thoughts on the incident during the media day at Suzuka, with varying opinions. Nico Hulkenberg criticized Alonso’s tactics, highlighting the dangerous situation created at high speeds in a blind exit corner. Daniel Ricciardo noted the severity of the consequences and questioned the uncommon defensive strategy employed by Alonso. Lando Norris defended Alonso’s actions, stating it was not a brake test and should not have resulted in a penalty, emphasizing that Russell should have been more attentive. Sergio Perez praised Alonso’s aggressive driving style, acknowledging his ability to push the limits while staying within acceptable boundaries, as seen in their past battles on the track.
