Did Alonso cheat to gain 3rd after turn 1 in Singapore GP

[John S]

Big Yes from me, but my son disagrees - who's right? 

In my view Nando was carrying way too much speed into the first turn, it's the only reason he was slightly ahead of the Bulls, however he had no way of making the corner, hence he gained unfair advantage on both Seb & Dan.

My son countered with "it's always exciting and edgy at the start of races and this is no worse than lots of other drivers going off track and returning ahead of others".

I retorted "if that was Grosjean he would get a drive thru for reckless driving carrying that much speed towards the first turn, regardless of whether he gave a place back or not." My son's response surprised me; "There was never any danger of a shunt with either the front runners or the pack so where's the beef?"

I pointed out that it was a calculated cynical action to give away just the one place to Vettel, but keep 3rd. I'm sure I visibly winced when my son blurted out these words "well that's what F1 is all about really, do anything - good or bad - to try to gain places or a win"   

Damon Hill, in the after race review on SkyF1, was unimpressed with Alonso's first corner antics, “He had the option of ducking out of the move because there’s run-off so in effect you could argue if obviously there was a brick wall there he wouldn’t have braked so late,” 1996 World Champion Hill suggested.

“This is one of the problems with run-offs. I’m certain he would have tried to make it round the corner but the question is whether or not by making run-offs driver get an unfair advantage in situations like that. I think he should have relinquished both of the positions, not just the one.”

Johnny Herbert also agreed with Damon that Alonso should have dropped back behind both Red Bulls. 

Thought's anyone? 

   

[Dare]

I'm with you on this one John.Alonso acts
as if chicanes aren't there at some races.

I remember at Monaco when battling Schumi for
the title that lap after lap he cut the chicane right
after the tunnel I believe.

[Monty]

Really this takes us back to complaining about the circuits. If there was no run-off he couldn't have cut the corner.
I think it was a deliberate tactic for Alonso. He did the same thing last year. I'm sure if he could have kept on track he would have but he knows that by being out wide if anything goes wrong he can straight line the corner, which is exactly what he did.
In my opinion he gained two places but only gave back one.
I know a gravel trap isn't an option on a road circuit but these painted areas are just as fast as the track and everything has to be left to the stewards. I would prefer these run-off areas to have some rumble strips that really demand the driver to slow down. In my opinion, taking to the run-off area should make them lose places, not gain places!

[Scott]

Yeah, I'll jump on the bandwagon.  I think Alonso should have given way to Daniel as well.  Agreed as well that there should be more penalty for cutting chicanes.  Big bumps that beat the heck out of the car or a few sand filled cones or posts that the driver has to navigate around...just enough weight to take off a front wing if he isn't going slow enough and careful enough.

[lkjohnson1950]

Better solution- get rid of the d2345d chicanes.

[Irisado]

Until the FIA actually make it so the circuits punish drivers for mistakes, this kind of thing will keep happening.  Remember Raikkonen's antics at the start of the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, where he made up all those places at the start by driving off the track and didn't get a penalty?  There are other examples too.

Move the barriers closer to the track or put the gravel traps back.  Problem solved.