Martin Brundle compares Alonso’s incidents with Coulthard and Russell: A playbook from 2003

Martin Brundle compares Fernando Alonso’s tactics in Australia to 2003 incident with David Coulthard

In a dramatic turn of events at the Australian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso found himself at the center of controversy once again, with former F1 driver Martin Brundle drawing parallels between his recent incident with George Russell and a similar situation involving David Coulthard back in 2003.

During the race, Alonso braked earlier than usual into Turn 6, causing Russell to lose downforce and ultimately crash out of the Grand Prix. This move led to Alonso being penalized under Article 33.4 of the FIA Sporting Regulations for driving in a potentially dangerous manner.

Brundle, in his post-race analysis, pointed out that Alonso’s tactics were reminiscent of a past incident at the Nurburgring in 2003, where he had a similar altercation with Coulthard. On that occasion, Coulthard accused Alonso of brake testing him, leading to a collision and subsequent retirement for the McLaren driver.

Alonso, however, defended his actions by claiming he was adjusting his braking point to get a better exit out of the corner. Despite his explanation, the stewards deemed his driving to be unsafe and handed him a 20-second time penalty and three points on his super license.

Brundle highlighted the similarities between the two incidents, noting that Alonso had used the “same playbook” in both cases. He emphasized that Alonso’s actions had caused significant damage and could have had serious consequences for the drivers involved.

Alonso, on the other hand, expressed surprise at the penalty, stating that he was simply employing the tactics that are common in racing. He argued that changing racing lines and sacrificing entry speed for better exits are part of the art of motorsport and should not be penalized.

Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Brundle concluded that Alonso’s intentions were clear in trying to disrupt Russell’s overtaking attempt. He acknowledged that while Alonso may not have intended for the crash to occur, his actions ultimately led to a dangerous situation on the track.

As the debate continues over Alonso’s tactics and the FIA’s decision to penalize him, the incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between aggressive racing and dangerous driving in Formula 1.