Formula One: Glass bottle thrown on track during the European GP in Valencia, Alonso blames Hamilton
Auto racing is filled with powerful and rigorous drivers, potent and roaring cars but at the same time, it is an extremely sensitive and vulnerable sport, filled with continuous hazards and risks. Even the smallest mistake could tumble the mighty cars and claim precious lives. Such a small yet dangerous thing occurred at the Valencia, Spain last weekend at the European Grand Prix.
On the lap twenty seven of the track, a glass bottle was thrown during the race by one of the fans, who were not spotted. After laying there for a while, a marshal had to risk his life while he came out to pick the bottle. It was a blessing that the bottle during its throw did not hit one of the cars or the drivers, as this minor thing could have summoned a major accident. Moreover, if the bottle had broken as it was thrown, the glass pieces could have caused a lot of tyre punctures or even much more than that spoiling the entire event and thus changing the results of the entire race for such a ridiculous action. Not to forget that billions of dollars are involved in a single race in addition to all the precious lives on the track.
After the race the Ferrari driver and two times Formula One World Champion, Fernando Alonso commented on the glass bottle that stayed on the track for several laps pronouncing it a reaction of ‘disgust’ that the fans felt for the penalty that was handed to Lewis Hamilton.
The McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton was handed a penalty for breaking the rules of safety car, as he overtook one while entering the pitstop on the ninth lap of the race, at the harbour side of the Valencia street track. At the same time, Alonso stopped and waited religiously behind the safety car, as the clearing process of the accident took place. It was the Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who faced a terrifying accident as he got hit by the Lotus driver, Heikki Kovalainen, resulting in a complete spin of the Red Bull’s RB6.
The anger of the fans was for the reason that it took a very long while before the stewards decided to punish Hamilton with the penalty. Due to the late decision taken by the FIA officials, Hamilton got enough time to make his position safe in the race. Alonso and Hamilton were having a head to head race, and Alonso was in a better position before the safety car came in but as a consequence of the car’s arrival, the McLaren and Ferrari driver ended the race at second and eighth place.
After the race ended, Hamilton commented that what happened was really dangerous not only for the high speed cars but also for marshal who collected the bottle, however it was Alonso who spoke out that it was due to the biased behaviour of the stewards that people reacted in such a manner.
On the other hand a lot of people, especially the tourists, as well as some of the Formula One officials and drivers asked to have Spain banned from the Formula One calendar, so that it would be a message for other people as well, to not to do anything as such in the future.
Whatever the reason had been, the reaction was condemned by everybody claiming it to be a very silly and dangerous way of protesting, as it could have turned fatal. However, it is a good lesson for the FIA as well, suggesting that people wish to see a more neutral and just racing management and such prejudiced decisions would result in defaming the sport.
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