Tag: free

Fernando Alonso suggested he was looking forward to his partnership with Alpine team-mate Esteban Ocon “finally” being over after the pair ruined each other’s races with a collision in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint.

Armed with a car that had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and in solid starting positions of sixth (Ocon) and seventh (Alonso), Alpine appeared well placed to strike a further blow against McLaren in the battle for fourth in the constructors’ championship.

However, the pair made contact twice on the first lap, and both cars suffered damage that would see Alonso finish 15th and Ocon 18th, with no points and poor starting positions for Sunday’s full-length race.

“(It’s) far from ideal when you touch on the first lap of the sprint race because it’s too short to come back,” Alonso said.

“On a positive side, the pace was very good today, close to the leaders actually. P15 we start tomorrow and if we have this pace. We can score points tomorrow.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Esteban Ocon says it’s unfortunate for the team that there was a clash between the Alpine drivers, while Fernando Alonso says ‘it’s one more race’ as teammates.

Ocon forced Alonso off track as the Spaniard attempted an overtake around the outside of Turn 4 on the opening lap, which caused him to lose control as he drove over the kerb and suffer a snap that caused the pair to make minor contact.

That was somewhat of a reprieve, but the pair failed to learn their lesson. In the closing stages of the first lap, Alonso once more tried to initiate a pass at the start of the home straight, but apparent confusion saw them make contact once more, with the damage this time more significant, and ultimately causing both to finish outside the points.

The Alpine duo were called to see the stewards after the race, with Alonso ultimately adjudged to have been at fault for the second collision, as he was given a five-second time penalty that dropped him to 18th, and lifted Ocon to 17th.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Check out the key moments from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint.

Speaking before that decision, Alonso, who is leaving Alpine to join Aston Martin at the end of the season, was critical of his team-mate, as he made reference to earlier incidents in the season.

Asked whether he had spoken to Ocon, Alonso said: “No, not really.”

“I don’t need to. It’s one more race and then it’s over finally.

“It was very close to the wall in Jeddah, close to the wall in Budapest, today in Turn 4, now here.

“It’s the way these things are. Sometimes it’s very competitive inside the team.”

Ocon: Alonso will be calm for the race

Ocon, also speaking before the stewards’ ruling, played down the incidents, insisting Alonso would have calmed down in time for Sunday’s race, if the Spaniard hadn’t already.

“It was unfortunate for the team really what happened,” Ocon said. “We were in such a good position and we are now at the back with a lot of work to do tomorrow.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A dramatic first lap sees Kevin Magnussen hold onto the lead of the Sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“So, it is going to be important to work together tomorrow to come back through the field.

“It is unfortunate what happened on lap one. I was trying to attack the McLaren, I took my line into Turn 4 and Fernando came out of nowhere on the outside and we touched.

“From there on, my race was pretty much over.

“I am quite calm. If he isn’t, he will be for tomorrow.”

Alpine condemn ‘unacceptable’ online abuse

Later on Saturday evening, Alpine released a statement condemning the online reaction to the incidents between their drivers.

“Whatever happens on track, there is absolutely no excuse for hateful comments, abuse or toxicity to be directed towards our drivers, team members, fans or indeed anybody online,” the statement said.

“Of all of the comments that we received across our social media channels during and after today’s Sprint qualifying, we received 882 toxic comments, 162 of which were severely toxic. This is wholly unacceptable.

“What we have seen today is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. We continue to see hate and discrimination online, and as a team, will not tolerate this.

“We will take action against individuals or groups who produce or disseminate social media posts that contain or encourage online abuse of our drivers, team members, and fans.”

Vettel understanding after Stroll’s ‘naughty’ manoeuvre

Alonso and Ocon weren’t the only team-mates to clash during Saturday’s Sprint, with Aston Martin duo Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll also hampering each other.

Vettel, who appeared to be the faster of the Aston Martins, was challenging Stroll for 11th on lap nine when the Canadian forced him onto the grass in the run to Turn 4.

Vettel, who is retiring from F1 at the end of the season, was fortunate to retain control of his car and return to the track, which he did before easing past Stroll soon after.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Lance Stroll forces his Aston Martin teammate Sebastian Vettel onto the grass at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint race.

“That was naughty driving there from Lance Stroll, that was too much, way too much,” Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said on commentary at the time.

The stewards agreed, handing Stroll a 10-second time penalty, which would relegate him from 12th to 17th in the final standings, and giving him three penalty points on his licence for dangerous driving.

Despite the stewards clearly ruling in his favour, Vettel, who ultimately finished a place outside the points in ninth, offered a measured assessment of the incident.

“It’s obviously split seconds,” he said. “I went to the inside and the gap closed and it was really tight and I went off the track, which was difficult to recover from, I was sort of stuck sitting on the plank but fortunately I got back.

“After that we were able to work together, and I was able to use the pace I had in the car.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz reflects on an exciting Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“It’s a fine line. You’re fighting for your spot. Obviously, it’s important to defend, on the other hand, it’s always trying to weigh up whether you are losing more than you’re gaining (by battling).

“Plus we are obviously trying to work together, so I think today in the end we could have done better, both of us, to try to get a better positioning for the team.”

The three penalty points given to Stroll takes his current tally to eight, which is only four short of the 12-point limit that would see him incur a one-race ban.

Speaking before the penalty point ruling, the Canadian only offered a limited response when quizzed about the incident.

“I have to look at it again I haven’t really seen the video,” he said. “So probably I didn’t leave enough space.”

Pierre Gasly has urged the FIA to change regulations that have left him on the brink of receiving a race ban for breaching Formula 1’s penalty point limit.

Gasly reached 10 penalty points for the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix, leaving the AlphaTauri driver just two short of the 12-point limit, which triggers a one-race ban if reached.

Penalty points do not drop off a driver’s licence until a year after they were given, meaning that this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix is the first of nine races – spanning across this season and next – that Gasly will have the possibility of the ban hanging over him.

The Frenchman, who will move to Alpine at the end of the season, is adamant the offences he has committed are not significant enough to merit the very rare implementation of a race ban.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s a very unpleasant situation and quite delicate, in some ways a bit embarrassing to be standing in a position where I could be banned for a race after the season that I’ve done,” Gasly said on Thursday in Brazil.

“I don’t really feel like I’ve been particularly dangerous over these last 12 months and that would definitely be a harsh penalty.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Gasly reached 10 penalty points after this incident with Lance Stroll at the Mexico City GP

Otmar Szafnauer, who will be Gasly’s boss next season, has joked that his incoming driver should commit a “tactical foul” in Brazil to ensure he serves the penalty with AlphaTauri, but the Alpine team principal more seriously suggested the possibility of the Frenchman attending a class that would result in points being cleared.

Gasly is adamant that he shouldn’t have to miss a race for either his current or future team.

“(There’s) definitely a lot of discussion with the FIA trying to find a solution because personally I want to do all of the races,” he said. “I want to finish the season in the best way I can with AlphaTauri. I want to do all of the races in 2023 and get the chance to perform for Alpine.

“Obviously, there’s a lot at stake because no-one knows what’s going to happen in 2023, I could end up in an amazing car fighting for the championship for example. I can’t take the risk to then lose all my hopes for the championship. So, it’s a very tricky situation.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Stroll spun his Aston Martin after making contact with AlphaTauri’s Gasly at the Spanish GP

“I’ve been discussing it quite a lot with the FIA to try and find solutions because the way the regulation is written at the moment, it’s quite strict on the drivers and quite harsh penalties even though it’s not always related to dangerous driving.”

“We’re going to have more conversations today and I do hope we can find solutions out of the weekend to avoid ending up in a silly situation where I’ll be banned for a race. That would be terrible for myself and definitely not the way that I’ve seen the sport growing up, I don’t think that’s the correct approach.”

How did Gasly incur penalty points?

Gasly’s most notable offences in amassing his 10 penalty points have been for causing collisions, the first of which was with Lance Stroll in Spain in May.

Another collision, this time with Stroll’s Aston Martin team-mate Sebastian Vettel, followed in Austria in July, with each incident resulting in a two-point penalty. Gasly incurred a further one-point penalty for exceeding track limits in Austria.

He was then involved in a major controversy at the Japanese GP in October as he was penalised for going too fast under a red flag, with the incident occurring while a recovery vehicle had been prematurely sent on track in wet conditions.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Gasly slams what he describes as the ‘unnecessary’ use of a recovery crane on track at the Japanese GP saying it was disrespectful to the memory of Jules Bianchi

Gasly would later say that he had feared for his life because of the presence of the vehicle, but was criticised by the FIA in a review of the race.

Another two-point penalty followed at the United States Grand Prix after Gasly failed to stay within 10 lengths of the car in front under Safety Car conditions.

The Frenchman then reached 10 penalty points at the Mexico City GP following another incident with Stroll, in which he was adjudged to have forced the Aston Martin off track.

What do the other drivers think?

Mercedes driver George Russell, who is president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, was one of several drivers to speak out in Gasly’s defence on Thursday.

George Russell, Mercedes

I think the penalty doesn’t fit the crime, let’s say, especially in Pierre’s case. I think he’s got some for safety car infringements, or incidents in practice sessions. If anything were to result in a race ban, it needs to truly be for something pretty reckless and dangerous.

I personally don’t associate Pierre being a reckless or dangerous driver. It’s actually something we spoke about earlier in the year around Barcelona after some drivers picked up penalty points for a nothing of an incident.

I hope he gets away with not getting a race ban because he certainly doesn’t deserve one. And if somehow he does manage to get 12 penalty points, there needs to be some exemption because the rules aren’t in the right place at the moment in that regard.

Definitely they (the FIA) have expressed to us that they’re going to have a conversation in the off-season and review all of this.

I think in sport you need to be able to adapt. You do have these regulations in place, and it only takes one incident to recognise maybe that regulation isn’t quite right and we need to have the capability to change things or take penalty points afterwards if we all agree that it was incorrect.

Alex Albon, Williams

I’m quite high up there as well (in terms of penalty points). I completely agree with Pierre.

Just to give some context to it, I think I have three points on my licence down to track limits, which is something that’s not dangerous at all, I’m not harming any other driver or myself in that situation.

I think I’ve got another two points in relation to a collision with Lance Stroll in Jeddah which at the end of race, as drivers we deemed that it wasn’t my fault. So, there are a lot of points on my licence which I don’t think are deserved.

We are discussing about it; I think there is going to be a change.

Firstly, we’ve already got the points on our licence so what happens then? Even if we do make steps forwards into next year, do the points that we’ve got from previous years and races stay on?

We do need to do something about it, I don’t think any of us are dangerous drivers. I do understand of course you should punish drivers if they do dangerous things, but I don’t think the points everyone has right now are because of dangerous things.

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

I think there’s already been discussions. I think it’s better to keep it internal, but my understanding is that some changes will be made for the future.

For sure, some of the things these guys have been getting the points for are not dangerous at all. They (points) should only be given when they’re really dangerous and (in situations) that can be harmful to somebody else on track.

I think we will see progress being made but I don’t think Pierre deserves to be in that kind of situation on the edge. That’s the rule now but the main thing is how we act in the future.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull

I feel like there are things that are not even related to his driving and we get points for that. When it’s not related to bad driving or mistakes, there shouldn’t be a penalty. It will be really bad if he ends up losing a race for that.

Lewis Hamilton posted a photo on social media on Saturday in an apparent cryptic response to comments from Fernando Alonso; the Spaniard was reported to have told Dutch media that he believes Max Verstappen’s F1 titles are “worth more” than Hamilton’s

Lewis Hamilton posted a cryptic response on social media following a report that claimed Fernando Alonso had said Max Verstappen’s championships were worth more than the Brit’s.

The Spanish driver, formerly Hamilton’s team-mate at McLaren, was quoted in the Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, as saying Verstappen’s titles were of greater value due to the more competitive nature of the seasons in which the Dutchman triumphed.

Verstappen recently sealed his second successive drivers’ championship with four races to spare, after edging out seven-time champion Hamilton last season in controversial circumstances after a titanic battle to claim his maiden title.

Following the release of the report on Saturday, two-time world champion Alonso took to social media to bemoan “the continuous search for headlines”, adding all titles were “amazing”.

However, Hamilton, appearing to respond to the report, later posted an image from his 2007 season alongside Alonso at McLaren, which showed the Brit stood on top of a podium with the Spaniard below him, accompanied by a thumbs up emoji.

Alonso was reported to have said: “Max’s titles are worth more than Hamilton’s.

“I have a lot of respect for Lewis but it’s different when you win seven world championships having only had to fight against your team-mate.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

After a confusing finish, Johnny Herbert is the person to reveal to Max Verstappen that he has become 2022 F1 drivers’ world champion

Alonso hit back at the report, writing on Twitter “Please, all the titles are amazing, well deserved and inspiring. Incomparable to each other and let’s enjoy champions and legends of our current time.

“Tired of the continuous search for headlines. Let’s enjoy them”.

The incident marks the second time in two months that tensions have flared between the former team-mates.

The pair posed with a signed Hamilton cap, gifted to Alonso, following insulting comments made by the Spaniard on team radio when the pair collided in a frantic first-lap incident in Belgium.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz holds the lead in the first lap as Lewis Hamilton suffers a collision with Fernando Alonso and is out of the race at the Belgian Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso has set the record straight regarding his opinion on Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s titles’ value

Watch the Mexico City Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 at 8pm, with build up from 6:30pm on Sunday.

George Russell leads Mercedes one-two with Max Verstappen closest rival, 0.477s back; Ferrari also struggle, with Mercedes perhaps favourites for qualifying – which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 9pm tonight

George Russell topped Practice Three ahead of Lewis Hamilton at the Mexico City GP as an unexpectedly dominant Mercedes left Red Bull and Ferrari trailing in the final session before qualifying.

Mercedes, who have no race wins and only one pole position this year with only three races left, have been talking up their Mexico chances due to the track layout and the high altitude, and delivered on that promise in P3.

Russell was fastest with a 1:18.399, with Hamilton was just over a tenth off his team-mate.

Their closest challenger, world champion Max Verstappen, was almost half a second off the pace – suggesting Mercedes may even be favourites for pole position in qualifying, which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 9pm.

“I can’t get over just how quick Mercedes are,” said Sky Sports F1’s Paul Di Resta.

Mercedes will, though, certainly be braced for a bigger challenge from their rivals in Saturday night’s shootout.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Mick Schumacher had a big spin in his Haas during final practice at the Mexico City GP.

Verstappen’s fastest lap, 0.477s off Russell, was set on older soft tyres after he backed out of his first flier, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – 0.7s and 0.9s off the pace for Ferrari – both hit out at the handling of their cars.

Fortunately for Leclerc, he does not have a grid penalty after his big crash in Practice Two.

Mercedes’ only other pole this season so far came in surprise circumstances in Hungary.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ferrari assistant team principal Laurent Mekies and Mercedes engineer Andrew Shovlin has criticised the penalty applied to Red Bull for breaching the cost cap, arguing it won’t affect their rivals that much.

Lando Norris was best of the rest in final practice in seventh for McLaren, ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, the last driver within a second of Russell’s benchmark.

Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon rounded off the top-10, with both Alpines missing out along with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Sky Sports F1’s build-up for qualifying starts at 8pm.

Carlos Sainz fastest in Practice One before George Russell topped Practice Two, which was a tyre test session; Two red flags in each session, with Charles Leclerc crashing Ferrari in P2; F1 back on track after Red Bull were handed their cost cap punishment

Carlos Sainz and George Russell shared practice honours at the Mexico City GP on Friday while Charles Leclerc had a big crash in his Ferrari as F1 returned to on-track competitiveness after Red Bull’s off-track saga finally ended.

Hours after Red Bull were handed their punishment for breaching F1’s cost cap in Max Verstappen’s title-winning 2021 season – handed a $7m fine and a reduction in car development – it was Ferrari who sped to the front ahead of the newly-crowned world champions in Practice One.

Sainz led the way with a 1:20.707, 0.046s ahead of Leclerc at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was in combative mood, arguing their rivals owe them an apology for claims made against them regarding cost cap regulations.

But there was barely anything to split the top six, which included Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Sergio Perez and Verstappen had identical times for Red Bull, 0.120s off Sainz, while Hamilton was only two hundredths further back in a Mercedes car that is tipped to compete for a first win of the season in Mexico.

Verstappen, aiming for a record-breaking 14th victory of 2022 this weekend, had a spin in the middle sector during a scruffier-than-usual session, complaining of “no grip in his Red Bull”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Max Verstappen spun his Red Bull out of control during P1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix

Alonso, meanwhile, was also within two tenths of the Ferrari benchmark in the Alpine.

Practice Two, like last weekend at the United States GP, was a lengthened session due to Pirelli tyre testing for 2023.

Russell was one of the drivers who was able to set laps on this year’s tyres – because he didn’t take part in first practice due to Nyck de Vries taking his place – and topped the timesheets with a 1:19.970.

Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon also posted times on the softs and were 0.8s and 1.2s off respectively.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Martin Brundle was trackside to cast his eye over Turn 8, which had seen Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crash into the barriers during P2 in Mexico.

The major incident from the session was a crash for Leclerc after he spun into the barriers in the twisty middle sector.

The Ferrari driver didn’t get back out on track after that.

Leclerc didn’t enforce the only red flag of the second session, with Zhou Guanyu stopping right at the end of the session to cause another and an early finish.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Opening practice in Mexico came to an early end after AlphaTauri reserve driver Liam Lawson saw his brakes catch on fire

P1 also had its stoppages.

The session – a crucial one due to the tyre testing P2 – also saw two red flags, with two of the rookies taking part seeing their track action cut short.

First, Pietro Fittipaldi, filling in for Haas, had an engine failure, before AlphaTauri’s stand-in Liam Lawson had a similar reliability issue late on.

Elsewhere, Logan Sargeant, De Vries and Jack Doohan finished 17th, 18th, and 19th for Williams, Mercedes and Alpine respectively. Sargeant and De Vries will be on the F1 grid full-time next season.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Zhou Guanyu’s car had to be dragged back into the pits before Haas team-mate Pietro Fittipaldi brought out the red flag after suffering an engine failure

Brundle: Red Bull punishment ‘about right’

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle

“I think it’s about right, perhaps slightly light. I think there are mitigating circumstances as Christian (Horner) has pointed out.

“There are no winners in this, it’s messy. It is year one of these regulations and you’d expect if they were over the limit next year, they would have to be doubled down on really, really hard.

“Of course, anybody else who breaches it, will have to be treated equally as hard as this one has been.

“It will hurt them but they’re starting with a very good car, it’s CFD as well, the digital computerised wind tunnel as well.

“They’ll just have to make sure that when they go to the wind tunnel, they’re acing it and making the most of each run. Clearly, it will hurt them developing through next year and so it should.”

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he plans to sign a new “multi-year” contract with Mercedes; the seven-time world champion’s current deal expires at the end of the 2023 season; watch the Mexico City GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend, with the race at 8pm on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he plans to sign a new “multi-year” contract with Mercedes that will see the seven-time world champion race into his forties.

The 37-year-old said earlier in his career that he did not envisage racing to such an age, but after losing out to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on two successive drivers’ titles, insists Mercedes “have a championship that we need to get back”.

Hamilton’s interests outside of Formula 1 include working on the fight for social and racial equality, fashion, music, film, and recently becoming a part-owner of an NFL team, but he is adamant the sport remains his priority.

“I’m not putting a limit on it to be honest,” Hamilton said on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

“I’m planning to do a multi-year deal with my team.

Hamilton spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City GP

“I really, really don’t know what the next five years (hold). I think we’re still trying to work on that. There are a lot of great things being put in place, like I just launched a production company this week, but I feel great in my mind and body.

“I want to continue, I think there’s more stuff for us to achieve together so I want to be here longer.”

Hamilton considered leaving the sport after being agonisingly – and controversially – denied an eighth world title in 2021, and has endured the most challenging campaign of his career this year as Mercedes struggled, with Red Bull dominating.

The Brit believes the challenges the team have faced over the last 12 months will make returning to the top that much more satisfying.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports’ Craig Slater and Paul Di Resta discuss whether Lewis Hamilton can ever reclaim the Formula One world title amid the dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull

He said. “If we’d have a year like last year and we were competing at the front all year, who knows where I would be?

“Each year you have to ask yourself if you’re willing to give as much if not more than you did when you first started. Are you willing to give up all your time to prepare and train and work with the team and deliver?

“If there’s ever a moment that I’m arriving and I’m just coasting along, then that’s when I don’t belong here, and don’t deserve the position here, and that’s when I should stop. I question myself as to whether I’m able to do that and whether I want to do that, and the answer is yes.

“We obviously have a championship that we need to get back, and I love the mission and that challenge with my team.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The battle for P1 continues as Max Verstappen battles through to take the lead from Lewis Hamilton at the United States Grand Prix

Hamilton, who has spoken openly about challenges he has faced with his mental health in the past, said one of the highlights of Mercedes’ testing period has been seeing his male colleagues open up.

“Every single person that’s back here has given up so much time in their lives on the road, year after year, and this one’s been a really, really challenging one for us all in so many ways,” Hamilton said,

“But it’s been beautiful to see the journey that everyone individually has gone on, but also collectively how we’ve gelled together and pulled together, pulled up closer to each other, been more open.

“With a room really full of men most often, them showing more of their vulnerability, that’s been a really interesting process, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

“I can’t wait to the time where we get back to success, when we finally get that win, when we get that championship – it’s going to make all of these tough moments worthwhile.”

Fernando Alonso dropped from seventh to 15th with a penalty following a Haas protest on Sunday, and Alpine have appealed; Alonso says this decision will dictate if we are going in the right direction for the future.”

Fernando Alonso has hit out at the FIA’s rules after he was handed a United States GP penalty and says the result of Alpine’s appeal will dictate whether Formula 1 is “going in the right direction for the future”.

Alpine’s double world champion Fernando Alonso lost seventh place at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday after stewards upheld a protest from rivals Haas about the safety of his car as he continued racing with loose bodywork.

Renault-owned Alpine, who are fighting McLaren for fourth in the constructors’ championship with prize money at stake, responded by protesting the admissibility of the Haas protest.

Both Alpine and Haas will meet stewards again on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City GP.

“It’s one of those rare times in sport, that I feel we are all on the same page and share the same opinion towards rules and regulations,” Alonso posted on Instagram on Monday night as he thanked fans for their messages.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Anthony Davidson analyses the crash that sent Fernando Alonso airborne

“Therefore, Thursday is an important day for the sport that we love so much, as this decision will dictate if we are going in the right direction for the future.”

Haas, who are eighth and only two points clear of AlphaTauri, had objected post-race to Alonso and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who finished fourth, being allowed to continue racing after damage from collisions.

Stewards rejected the protest against Red Bull but upheld the one against Alpine, dropping Alonso to 15th with a 30 second post-race penalty.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Alpine driver Fernando Alonso reflects on US GP and highlights the strength of the car after the Spaniard escaped unscathed from an airborne incident

Haas had argued that Alonso’s car was in an unsafe condition after a collision because the right-hand mirror, which eventually fell off, was moving around.

They also made the point they had been shown a black and orange flag, requiring a driver to pit due to mechanical problems or loose bodywork, on three occasions this season.

“A car must be in a safe condition throughout a race, and in this case, Car 14 (Alonso) was not,” stewards said in their ruling. “This is a responsibility of the Alpine team.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll collided at the US GP, with Alonso sent airborne as a result

Alpine said Haas had lodged their protest 24 minutes past the specified deadline, a fact acknowledged by the FIA who had said compliance was not possible, and it should not have been accepted.

“Therefore the penalty should be considered as invalid,” the team said in a statement. “As a result of this point, the team has protested the admissibility of the original Haas F1 team protest.”

Alpine would have scored six points for Alonso’s seventh place but instead ended up with just one for Esteban Ocon being bumped up to 10th.

Without Alonso’s points, Alpine are only six clear of McLaren with three races remaining.

The Spaniard’s demotion meant Haas’ Danish driver Kevin Magnussen moved up from ninth to eighth, doubling his points haul from the race and sending the team two points clear of AlphaTauri.

Formula 1 heads to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez amid continued scandal over Red Bull’s cost cap breach; Drivers’ and team principals’ press conferences live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend; Qualifying at 9pm on Saturday, the race at 8pm on Sunday

Get ready for epic racing and controversy off the track – all live on Sky Sports F1 – as Formula 1 heads to Mexico for a Grand Prix weekend that is sure to provide talking points.

Another brilliant Max Verstappen victory last time out at the United States Grand Prix helped Red Bull confirm the addition of the constructors’ championship to the drivers’ title the Dutchman had already sealed.

However, there is still plenty of intrigue as Formula 1 makes the (relatively) short journey from Texas to Mexico City, with the sport still awaiting a ruling from the FIA on Red Bull’s 2021 cost cap breach.

Discussions between Red Bull and the FIA, and therefore a decision, were pushed back following the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz during the US GP weekend, but a resumption – and perhaps a resolution – are expected in Mexico.

Whatever the FIA’s decision, there is likely to be a strong reaction in the paddock, making the weekend’s media sessions with both team principals and drivers of particular interest.

• Qualifying starts at 9pm on Saturday, with build-up from 8pm
• The race starts at 8pm on Sunday, with build-up from 6.30pm

On the track, home favourite Sergio Perez will continue his battle for second in the drivers’ championship with Charles Leclerc, while Mercedes will be looking to go one better after Lewis Hamilton came agonisingly close to a first victory of the season in Austin.

Live Mexico City GP schedule on Sky Sports F1

Thursday
8pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday
6pm: The F1 Show
7pm: Mexico City GP Practice One
9.45pm: Mexico City GP Practice Two (session starts 10pm)

Saturday
5.45pm: Mexico City GP Practice Three (session starts 6pm)
8pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying Build-up
9pm: MEXICO CITY GP QUALIFYING
10.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP Build-up
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP Reaction
11pm: Ted’s Notebook
11.30pm: Mexico City GP Highlights

George Russell caused a first-lap collision with Carlos Sainz that saw the pole-sitter retire from the United States Grand Prix; Russell finished fifth despite suffering damage to his car in the incident, but was left disappointed with his performance

George Russell apologised to Carlos Sainz for causing a first-lap collision that saw the pole-sitter retire from the United States GP, and admitted he is struggling for confidence after a disappointing run of form.

Russell, who started fourth in Austin, drove into Sainz at the first corner after failing to slow down his Mercedes, with the incident forcing the Ferrari to retire with a water leak.

Despite sustaining some damage to his front wing, Russell was able to continue and finished fifth, but was left disappointed at being well off the pace of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who finished a close second to Max Verstappen.

“Firstly, apologies to him,” Russell said. “We’re all going into Turn 1 attacking, you never want to be involved in contributing to taking somebody else’s race out.

“I was expecting him to try to go around the outside of Max rather than cut back, and by that point I’d already committed and it was kind of inevitable that I was going to make contact.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Russell apologised after the race for his collision with Sainz.

“I just went to see him and apologised for that.

“From there on it was a really difficult afternoon for me personally. I’ve been really off the pace this weekend. I know there was some damage, but I don’t know how much damage there was exactly to the car.

“It will give me a bit of peace of mind if it’s more than we first anticipated, because I was nowhere this afternoon.”

Despite Mercedes’ 2022 struggles, Russell has enjoyed a brilliantly consistent debut season with the team, in which he had finished in the top five in all but one of the first 16 races, with the exception being a retirement caused by a crash he could have done little about.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Anthony Davidson analyses Sainz short stint at the United States Grand Prix.

As a result, he retains a 20-point lead over Hamilton going into the final three races of the season, but admits poor displays in Singapore (14th) and Japan (8th) have dented his confidence.

“These last three weekends have been pretty scrappy for various reasons,” Russell said.

“We had the weather conditions in Singapore, equally the weather in Japan, we then had the tyre testing here in Austin, with the wind being really gusty.

“These are factors but ultimately it comes down to probably driving, psychological, and having that confidence in the car and yourself.”

Sainz: Russell wasn’t in the battle and came from nowhere

Sainz, speaking to the media while the race was ongoing and before Russell had apologised, was critical of the Mercedes driver.

“I think you don’t need many words,” Sainz said. “You just need the images to see exactly what happened, and the images speak for themselves.

“I was in the middle of a fight with Max into Turn 1 and suddenly one guy that wasn’t in the battle came from nowhere and bumped into me, so that’s it.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sainz explains his frustrations after being forced to retire from the US GP.

Sainz was seeking to delay Red Bull’s coronation as constructors’ champions after beating Verstappen to a brilliant pole, but the Dutchman got the better getaway.

It was not the first time this season Sainz has paid the price for a poor start, but on this occasion he felt it was more down to Verstappen’s excellence than a failure on his behalf.

“I think it is a combination of things,” Sainz said. “Our start hasn’t been great because we have an inherent problem in this car.

“My start [today] wasn’t too bad when you compare it to the Mercs, it was Max who got a really good one.”