Fall out over Webber’s hitched lift with Alonso

The main discussion point following the Singapore Grand Prix was the reprimand handed to both Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber following the race.

Following Red Bull’s Mark Webber retiring on the final lap of the race, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso stopped on track to give his rival and friend a lift back to the pits.

It’s a scene that is forever remembered by that of Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna at the 1991 British Grand Prix, but is in fact something that has happened on quite a few occasions and even with Alonso and Webber, although last time it was Alonso hitching a lift with Webber.

The problem on this occasion was that Alonso stopped in a fairly dangerous place, just on the exit of a blind corner, causing drivers to take avoiding action.

Kimi Raikkonen came to a complete stand still to avoid the parked Ferrari, whilst Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg took avoiding action, with the German coming close to running over Mark Webber.

Due to this both drivers were handed a reprimand and for Webber, this means a ten-place grid penalty in Korea as it is his third reprimand of the season.

The harsh penalty has angered both Red Bull and Webber.

‘It’s frustrating because it now puts Mark on the backfoot in Korea, and that’s the bit that doesn’t really make sense. Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports.

The problem is that race stewards are limited in what punishments they can hand out after a Grand Prix, they are only allowed to fine teams not drivers, so that punishment wouldn’t fit the crime on this occasion, so it’s a reprimand or no punishment at all.

Obviously Webber believes no punishment at all would have been the common sense decision: ‘For Alonso and me to receive reprimands for our actions after the race it is comical to say the least. Great moment, and fans loved it,’ he wrote on Twitter.

Webber also appeared to criticise Singapore race steward Derek Warwick: ‘Looks like even one of the Singapore stewards has done it,’ Webber wrote while posting a photo of Warwick on the back of another Formula One car.

Warwick was quick to defend the decision: ‘It is not health and safety gone mad, A driver could easily have been hurt.’ he told the Daily Telegraph, before adding: ‘…we cannot put drivers at risk. If it had been done in a safer manner then it might have been viewed differently, but this was potentially very dangerous. You can’t have cars parked in the middle of a corner.’