BREAKING : FIA Hand Alonso Penalty After Chaotic Start to Azerbaijan Grand Prix… Read more
FIA Hand Alonso Penalty After Chaotic Start to Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix began in dramatic fashion on Sunday, with the FIA forced to intervene just seconds into the race. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was among those penalised after being caught out by a chaotic sequence at lights out in Baku.
The grid had already shaped up in unusual fashion following a turbulent qualifying session on Saturday. Max Verstappen lined up on pole for Red Bull, continuing his streak of dominant performances. Alongside him was Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who stunned the field by securing a front-row start. Behind them, Racing Bulls youngster Liam Lawson impressed with third on the grid, while McLaren’s championship protagonists Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were left mired further back in seventh and ninth.
When the lights went out, however, the order was immediately thrown into turmoil. Piastri, the current drivers’ championship leader, jumped the start in a costly mistake. His premature launch not only drew the attention of the stewards but also seemed to disrupt those around him. Within moments of reacting early, the Australian crashed out of the grand prix before completing the opening lap, dealing a massive blow to his title bid.
Yet Piastri’s error did not just end his own race. His lightning reaction at the start appeared to trick Alonso, the veteran Aston Martin driver, who also got off the line too soon. From the Sky Sports F1 commentary box, pundit Karun Chandhok immediately flagged the incident, expressing shock at Piastri’s misjudgment but also at Alonso’s apparent false start. Chandhok predicted that the Spaniard, like Piastri, would be hit with a penalty.
The stewards soon confirmed that Alonso had indeed jumped the start. Race control communicated the decision to the 44-year-old over team radio, informing him that he would receive a five-second time penalty. Alonso accepted the sanction without protest, explaining what had happened from his perspective: “Yeah, copy. Yeah, I reacted to Piastri, sorry,” he admitted.
The penalty meant Alonso would have to serve the punishment during a pit stop, costing him valuable time and track position. For Aston Martin, it was yet another setback in a difficult season. While Alonso’s experience has often been a stabilising force for the team, the Spaniard has found himself battling more frustration than glory in 2025.
The incident also reignited debate over the pressure at race starts, particularly on a challenging street circuit like Baku. While Piastri’s error was widely viewed as a rookie-style miscalculation, Alonso’s involvement highlighted how even the most seasoned champions can be unsettled by unpredictable moments on the grid. Having won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, Alonso remains one of the sport’s most decorated figures, but the realities of high-pressure starts remain the same regardless of experience.
For McLaren, the damage of Piastri’s early exit could prove significant in the wider championship battle. His crash not only handed rivals a chance to close the gap in the standings but also disrupted teammate Norris, who had been hoping to capitalise on his grid position to make up ground.
As for Alonso, his five-second penalty may not have been race-ending, but it was a costly reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1. One driver’s mistake set off a chain reaction, and in Baku—a circuit notorious for chaos—such small errors can make all the difference.
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