Alonso Renews Call for Ralf to be Banned
Renault's Fernando Alonso has refused to retract a call for Ralf Schumacher to be handed a Formula One ban.
Renault's Fernando Alonso has refused to retract a call for Ralf Schumacher to be handed a Formula One ban.
The Spaniard said his Williams rival was a danger to the rest of the field.
Alonso blamed Ralf for knocking him out of last Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix and although the German and his Williams team say the Renault driver was at fault, he was still seething at the European Grand Prix.
"Yes, this is a race for real drivers," Alonso told reporters on Friday when asked if he still felt Ralf should be punished because of the accident that cost Renault a one-two finish.
"Some manoeuvres are just unacceptable," he added.
"If someone like Baumgartner made manoeuvres like that he wouldn't be here," Alonso said, referring to Minardi rookie Zsolt Baumgartner of Hungary.
Alonso, 22, said he also had no intention of apologising for making a rude gesture with his finger last Sunday as Ralf drove past. The gesture was captured by the television camera above his cockpit.
"No, no apology," he said. "I put my life at risk. This was nothing compared to that."
Alonso slammed into the tunnel guardrail while running in second place and trying to lap the Williams. A burst of flame highlighted the impact before Alonso skidded out of the tunnel and hit the barriers with the front of the car before sliding to a standstill.
Ralf has dismissed Alonso's demand that he face at least a three week suspension. He said again on Thursday that he had slowed down and moved out of the way.
"As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to talk about with him," Schumacher said. "If Alonso wants to talk with me, he knows where he can find me."
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