Alonso Calls for Stricter Penalties as Hamilton and Leclerc Stir Ten…. Read More
Fernando Alonso voiced his frustration after a chaotic day of practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, directing his anger at both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for what he saw as disruptive driving on the narrow Monte Carlo circuit.
During the second free practice session (FP2), Alonso was forced to abort a flying lap after encountering both Ferraris—driven by Hamilton and Leclerc—exiting the Nouvelle Chicane. With limited space on the tight street track, the two drivers moved to the left to make way for Alonso, but the maneuver only caused further congestion. Alonso responded with visible irritation, waving from the cockpit and expressing his anger over team radio as he returned to the pits.
“It’s impossible to be on track with these guys,” Alonso complained over the radio. “Why did they stop? In Turn 10, why did they stop? Both Ferraris. I don’t know.”
The incident was one of several traffic-related challenges throughout the day. Max Verstappen also described the situation on track as “dangerous.” Earlier in FP1, Leclerc had made contact with Alonso’s Aston Martin teammate, Lance Stroll, earning Stroll a one-place grid penalty. The overall congestion on the tight Monaco circuit was a source of growing concern among drivers.
Following the session, Alonso did not hold back in his post-practice comments. He called for the FIA stewards to take a firmer stance when it comes to penalizing drivers for impeding during qualifying.
“Traffic has been the main topic with these cars,” Alonso said. “It’s quite difficult to fit two cars on track. Obviously, free practice is different than qualifying. Hopefully, a more harsh approach in terms of penalties will be taken tomorrow. If not, it’s going to be difficult.”
Alonso emphasized how critical it is to get a clean lap during qualifying, especially in Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously difficult and grid position can determine the outcome of the race. He noted that drivers would need both skill and a bit of luck to avoid traffic and make it through the qualifying stages.
“It’s the same for everybody,” he added. “You have to be a little bit lucky in qualifying. To have that clean lap will always help to make some progress in Q1 and Q2.”
Despite the traffic issues, it was Charles Leclerc who emerged fastest in both FP1 and FP2. The Monegasque driver will look to repeat his success at his home Grand Prix, having won the Monaco GP for the first time last year.
