Alonso questions F1 regulations memory in 'heat of a battle'

Fernando Alonso has stressed that drivers are unable to remember the F1 regulations in every moment during a Grand Prix, especially when in the "heat of a battle".

The rules have been a significant talking point across the last fortnight following Lando Norris and Max Verstappen's collision in the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix. 

Norris and Verstappen came close to colliding several times prior to their incident whilst jostling for the lead, which resulted in the McLaren driver retiring from the race. 

Verstappen salvaged fifth despite receiving a 10-second time penalty for being judged at fault. Questions were raised after that race in regard to what is fair and unfair defending, in line with the regulations. 

Alonso – the most experienced driver on the grid – believes the rules can be forgotten when fighting for the lead, with drivers ultimately putting their trust in one another to race fairly.

"You are always racing trusting the other drivers," Alonso told select media including RacingNews365. 

"The rules you forget for a moment when you are in the heat of a battle, and you are fighting sometimes for points, sometimes for podium and sometimes even for world championships. 

"I've been fighting for world championships five times at the last race, in the last moment of the season. How you can think about the rules in that moment? 

"You go for an overtake or you go to defend and you try to be fair, and you need to trust the drivers. That's probably the way we've always raced."

Varied 'repercussions'

The two-time world champion has had his fair share of collisions and incidents since making his debut back in 2001, making his thoughts on Norris and Verstappen's clash fascinating. 

Comically, the Spaniard did not have time ahead of the British Grand Prix last weekend to look back on what happened at the Red Bull Ring, due to being in a rush to renew his passport.

However, a key detail the 42-year-old did note is that collisions when fighting for the lead result in harsher punishments, than a clash in the midfield which is not even captured on television.

"All racing incidents that will happen between the leaders will have a lot more repercussions," insisted Alonso. 

"Sometimes you have it between P14 and P15, and it is not even broadcast on TV and there is no repercussions. 

"So difficult to comment. I didn't see it, I didn't see the details."