Numerous track limit infringements took place at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend and while FIA did enforce strict penalties, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton complained over the radio that it was not levelled against all drivers in a fair manner.
During the race on Sunday, a total of nine 5-second penalties were levied by the FIA, with three of them going to AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda alone.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Logan Sargent, and Kevin Magnussen also received a time lapse.
However, there were a number of other drivers who got away with a black and white flag.
Andy Stevenson, Aston Martin sporting director, on his way to the stewards, notice the amount of paper he is bringing
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) July 2, 2023
📸@AlbertFabrega pic.twitter.com/BOleMiQtco
Hamilton was particularly annoyed with how other drivers in front of him were getting away with the same thing as he was being penalised for.
While chasing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Hamilton complained over his team radio, “This guy has been off every single time. Turn 10!”
Even when he was behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, Hamilton felt the youngster was guilty of committing the same mistake.
“He [Norris] was off at Turn 10. Are these guys even watching,” Hamilton asked on the radio.
Aston Martin launched a protest after the race regarding track limit violations, where they claimed that the FIA did not penalise all drivers in the same manner.
🚨 | The reason for Aston Martin’s protest is related to track limits.
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) July 2, 2023
There were more than 100 deleted lap times during the race#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/E5pBMjwEKF
The stewards themselves believed that over 100 laps were deleted due to track limit violations. Aston Martin urged the governing body to reconcile all the deleted laps and their respective penalties, hoping that it would dramatically change the final standings.
FIA reports there were 1200 times they had to look at potential track limit infringements and after the submission of Aston Martin, their decision will be published after they review every one of them
— Aston Martin F1 updates (@startonpole) July 2, 2023
We go to drink beer now
If FIA did go by Aston Martin’s logic, Fernando Alonso would move ahead of both Norris and Sainz and occupy P4, just outside the podium as opposed to his current P6 finish.
While no changes have been made yet, the FIA has vowed to review each of the 1200 track limit violations that took place during the race.
A number of more penalties can be expected to be levelled against a host of drivers.
Following the race, Hamilton was still frustrated with how Norris and Perez got away with their errors.
“He [Norris] was going off so much, it was insane. As soon as he got past me he went off like at least 10 times,” Hamilton said.
“Perez would go off turn nine, turn 10 and he didn’t get a penalty.”