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[Ferrari man 009]

The following quote from the stewards, as reported on Sky Sports' website explains why Alonso wasnt penalised

"While Car 3 [Alonso] did leave the track at Turn 3-4 the stewards believe that he had no choice, as Car 18 [Vergne] closed on him," the FIA statement confirming that no further action would be taken stated.

"Car 18 was at the end of his stint with worn tyres and was fully committed to the Turn as Car 3 exited the pits. Telemetry confirms that Car 3 was significantly faster, on option tyres, and had the advantage throughout the sequence.

Also interesting to read that Alonso never intended to pass Vergne, until he had no option but to do so.

"I wanted to come behind [Vergne] to be honest because in Turn Four I have the detection point and I can pass on the DRS [zone] and with good traction and the new soft [tyre], it's clear," Alonso explained.

"But I was side-by-side and already in front so I a little bit surprised that I was forced to go off track. Actually this was the plan B - plan A was to pass him with the DRS."

In taking avoiding action, Alonso heavily rode over the kerb in the turns three-four sequence and afterwards said: "I still have all the teeth after the bump! In the back obviously there is pain a little bit now because it was a big hit.

"We had the alarm also on the chassis after some G-Forces. For sure it was a big hit but hopefully I'm okay for Austin and Brazil."

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24184 ... -abu-dhabi

I think given the extra information available to the stewards, it is understandable why Alonso wasnt penalised

[LRW]

I've read that Alonso has gone to hospital, as a precaution, as the sensors read a 28G force when he came down.

[sagi58]

Oh boo hiss! Why did Alonso get off with that? That's rubbish!

A picture may be worth a thousand words; but, a video clip is priceless:

[sagi58]

Abu Dhabi GP: Vergne says Alonso prevented big crash

Jean-Eric Vergne believes Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stewards were right not to penalise Fernando Alonso for overtaking him off the track.

The Toro Rosso driver said he had not seen Alonso as the Spaniard emerged from the pits on the 45th lap of the race, meaning he took his regular line through Turn 3.

Stewards investigated the incident as technically Alonso passed Vergne for seventh while outside the track limits, but no action was taken on the basis that the Ferrari driver had no choice.

Vergne praised Alonso for his actions and said they prevented the possibility of a big accident

"It was a racing incident and if he had not gone on the outside [of the track] like he did, we would have had a big crash," Vergne told AUTOSPORT.

"It was high-speed, and what he did was right. Actually, I am really happy he did that otherwise we would have had an accident, so yes, definitely [the stewards made the right decision]."

"I knew that I might be racing against him but as I didn't see him on the left, I thought he was in front of me. But he was next to me where I could not see him."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111117

[Rahbek]

Apparently Vettel has "honed" his skills so much that he could have won by over a minute according to Horner...

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... ing-margin

I just cannot believe how they are able to build a car that makes the rest of the highly educated engineers look like grade schoolers...

[What's Burning?]

It's simple... it is the responsibility of the driver EXITING THE PITS to do so SAFELY. Ferrari was gifted a fifth place finish, thank you very much.

[racechick]

Is it Ferrari engines that power Vergne ? I forget, because I tend go think of torro rosso as a baby red Bull team. It's a bit confusing.......

[Denthúl]

It's simple... it is the responsibility of the driver EXITING THE PITS to do so SAFELY. Ferrari was gifted a fifth place finish, thank you very much.

I'm surprised that most people see only two options: crash or go off-track. Alonso could see Vergne moving over to take the normal line...why not back off? That's what a number of people argued when Grosjean was pushed wide by Massa at Hungary, so why does the same not apply here?

Is it Ferrari engines that power Vergne ? I forget, because I tend go think of torro rosso as a baby red Bull team. It's a bit confusing.......

It is, but they're only the engine supplier for STR for the remainder of this season, so I doubt it would matter very much if they did anything to annoy Ferrari.

[f1boy]

Well done to Seb again today, but imo it's looking a bit pathetic how useless Red Bull are making every other
team on the grid look.

Seb just drives away at the front and no one else is really in the race.......

Amazing really, how bad Ferrari, Merc and McLaren actually are these days.

[spankyham]

It's simple... it is the responsibility of the driver EXITING THE PITS to do so SAFELY. Ferrari was gifted a fifth place finish, thank you very much.

First race in a long while that I wasn't able to watch live. Stupid Singapore Airlines not having live feed on their long haul flights Grrrrr

Had my first look at this incident. Firstly, Nando had long exited the pits and long cleared the pit lane exit so that clearly has nothing to do with the incident.

Vergne and the stewards got this completely right IMO. Quick action/thinking on Nando's part avoided an accident.

[Hammer278]

It's simple... it is the responsibility of the driver EXITING THE PITS to do so SAFELY. Ferrari was gifted a fifth place finish, thank you very much.

First race in a long while that I wasn't able to watch live. Stupid Singapore Airlines not having live feed on their long haul flights Grrrrr

Had my first look at this incident. Firstly, Nando had long exited the pits and long cleared the pit lane exit so that clearly has nothing to do with the incident.

Vergne and the stewards got this completely right IMO. Quick action/thinking on Nando's part avoided an accident.

So next time 'quick thinking' can be attributed to any car trying to pass on the outside of a corner, but getting squeezed wide...takes a shortcut conveniently and overtakes, not incurring penalty because of 'quick thinking'.

The Ferrari has brakes doesn't it? If it is forced wide, it has the ability to BRAKE and go back behind since that was an OFF ROAD OVERTAKE. Don't even kid yourselves that this was a fair decision.

[spankyham]

It's simple... it is the responsibility of the driver EXITING THE PITS to do so SAFELY. Ferrari was gifted a fifth place finish, thank you very much.

First race in a long while that I wasn't able to watch live. Stupid Singapore Airlines not having live feed on their long haul flights Grrrrr

Had my first look at this incident. Firstly, Nando had long exited the pits and long cleared the pit lane exit so that clearly has nothing to do with the incident.

Vergne and the stewards got this completely right IMO. Quick action/thinking on Nando's part avoided an accident.

So next time 'quick thinking' can be attributed to any car trying to pass on the outside of a corner, but getting squeezed wide...takes a shortcut conveniently and overtakes, not incurring penalty because of 'quick thinking'.

The Ferrari has brakes doesn't it? If it is forced wide, it has the ability to BRAKE and go back behind since that was an OFF ROAD OVERTAKE. Don't even kid yourselves that this was a fair decision.

I'm pretty certain that cars are not allowed to be forced off the track and I believe that rule was subject to written clarification rule change prior to last year. Nando had well established position and Vergne was obliged to leave him space - which he didn't do and which Vergne freely admitted.

[Hammer278]

So that gives Alonso a free pass to overtake? Vergne took his racing line, Alonso was exiting the pits, and left the track when he could've just lifted and challenged him later. Instead, he got a squeeze, so chose to run off track, overtake and then call it "avoiding a collision". Sounds like a highly convenient excuse to me.

[spankyham]

So that gives Alonso a free pass to overtake?

Yes, under the rules, a driver is obliged to leave room for another car to keep at least a part of one tire on the track.

Vergne took his racing line, Alonso was exiting the pits, and left the track when he could've just lifted and challenged him later. Instead, he got a squeeze, so chose to run off track, overtake and then call it "avoiding a collision". Sounds like a highly convenient excuse to me.

Seems you've changed your position a lot since the Massa Hamilton incident in Monaco two years ago

[NHcheese]

So that gives Alonso a free pass to overtake?

Yes, under the rules, a driver is obliged to leave room for another car to keep at least a part of one tire on the track.

Vergne took his racing line, Alonso was exiting the pits, and left the track when he could've just lifted and challenged him later. Instead, he got a squeeze, so chose to run off track, overtake and then call it "avoiding a collision". Sounds like a highly convenient excuse to me.

Seems you've changed your position a lot since the Massa Hamilton incident in Monaco two years ago

Anyway. Vergne took his racing line however that is where the pit exit is. Alonso was still racing he didn't have to let him by, because this was for position. Vergne also couldn't see him because of the way the corner is. Alonso couldn't do anything else in my mind.