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#12406
From autosport.com:

By Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, August 14th 2007, 11:29 GMT

Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard has called for more consistency when applying penalties in Formula One following the Hungarian Grand Prix incident.

Both Fernando Alonso and his McLaren team were penalised in Hungary after the stewards did not accept the team's nor the Spaniard's explanations for the incident which saw the world champion hold up his teammate Lewis Hamilton during qualifying, causing the Briton to lose the opportunity to run another flying lap.

Alonso was critical of the penalty, saying there was no rule that specified he should be penalised in such a situation.

Coulthard admitted he was also left wondering why the race stewards decided on that penalty, and has also called for more consistency when applying punishments.

"Like many others in the pitlane I am first and foremost a fan of the sport, so I was just as fascinated as you guys by the developing rivalry between Alonso and Hamilton after qualifying in Hungary," Coulthard wrote in his column for ITV.

"But a number of us inside F1 circles were also left wondering how the stewards came to decide on the punishment meted out to Alonso and McLaren.

"Why, for instance, was McLaren singled out for punishment while Ferrari wasn't pulled up for failing to put fuel in Felipe Massa's Ferrari? Didn't that hamper Felipe's chances in qualifying as well?

"Certainly everyone I have spoken to, both within the paddock and friends that I have outside the sport who are fans, are flabbergasted by how some of F1's rules and regulations are enforced.

"It's bit difficult to follow the sport when you find there isn't really a consistent set of criteria for how penalties are applied.

"Having a permanent FIA steward, Tony Scott-Andrews, has improved things, because he knows the personalities involved and that allows him to make a more even judgement.

"But even so it's important for F1 to be more consistent and transparent in applying penalties."


Very true words from Coulthard, another driver showing his astonishment at the FIA's behaviour. Although Tony Scott-Andrews has improved things slightly, consistency is still a big issue, but more important, politically motivated decisions are being made. Making Formula One more transparent will affect the FIA political machine, so it's not really an option, despite it putting people off the sport, something which Max Mosley likes to whine on about. :roll:
User avatar
By madbrad
#12413
Who among us has not wondered for the last decade and a half why the penalties are so inconsistent?
User avatar
By 7UpJordan
#12427
Inconsistent penalties?? You should take a look at the current state of the English Football League and then you'll wonder why clubs like West Ham get a pathetic lame slap on the wrist peanuts fine and stay in the Premiership for lying and fielding 2 inelligable players whilst teams like Bury get thrown of the FA Cup for admitting they fielded an inelligable player by accident.

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