Gasly: FIA’s F1 penalty stance isn’t “black and white”
Pierre Gasly says that the FIA’s stance on Formula 1 penalties is not “black and white” after Kevin Magnussen escaped punishment following the pair's fraught battle during the Singapore GP.
Gasly accused Magnussen of pushing him off the track and compared the Haas driver’s escape from any sanction with the reprimands that Max Verstappen received for two impeding incidents in qualifying.
Those verdicts came as a surprise to drivers and teams who are used to seeing grid penalties for such offences and led to questions about the consistency of stewards’ decisions.
Gasly, who faced a string of penalties in 2022 and at one stage was close to receiving a race ban, has questioned stewards’ decisions in the past.
“I just asked if he can push someone off the race track when I’m going to pass him, I’m going to give him a little nudge and do the same,” he said of his fight with Magnussen. “I’m not going to open the topic – it’s just, make it black and white.
“I was pretty surprised [after qualifying] and again on Sunday. I don’t fully understand the regulation. I read the regulations, I know the regulations, but then it doesn’t always translate to what happens on the track.
“But to be fair, it didn’t change my race. I got the best out of it so it was fine but a couple of times it’s just unfair to me.”
He added: “It might be the way I look at things, I don’t know. I’ll have a discussion [with the FIA] because to me it’s just, I don’t fully understand.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A523
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“I’m not going to question more etcetera, but I’ve had tough decisions against me, with a six places penalty in Barcelona this year for impeding, and it was definitely way less than what I’ve seen yesterday. Maybe now this is allowed. I don’t know, I’ll ask.”
Regarding Magnussen’s feisty driving he noted: “He said it before the race, I think he said 'I’m not going to make anyone’s life easy', and clearly he took his words as they were.
“I knew he was going to take it on the limit. It was once or twice slightly over but at the end, I finished P6, so I don’t really care.”
Despite his concerns over the decision-making of the stewards', Gasly was pleased with Alpine's on-track recovery from a torrid Italian Grand Prix, although a gearbox failure cost Esteban Ocon valuable points.
“We had such a tough Monza,” he said. “We knew why, we knew the track layout didn’t favour us, but it was important just to get some sort of performance and prove it to ourselves. So this is what happened.
“I think both cars should have been sixth and seventh, it’s a shame for Esteban and lose a car and some important points. But definitely sure on Sundays we have got the potential to be right there, and that was positive.”
F1 risks "disarray" if Massa wins legal bid over 2008 title - Wolff
Magnussen never “fought so hard” for an F1 point as in Singapore
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in F1 Japanese GP
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise Why a Mercedes U-turn couldn't deny Sauber's F1 debut surprise
Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule
Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule
Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan
Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix 10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix
IndyCar reveals 2024 schedule, the Milwaukee Mile returns
IndyCar reveals 2024 schedule, the Milwaukee Mile returns IndyCar reveals 2024 schedule, the Milwaukee Mile returns
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.