Eddie Jordan calls for Ecclestone’s methods to be remembered

Fernando Alonso crossed the finish line of the Australian Grand Prix in sixth place, and millions of television viewers around the world saw this, but after the finish the stewards gave him a 20-second time penalty, after which the Spanish Aston Martin driver dropped to 8th place. position.

Eddie Jordan, the founder and former head of the Jordan team (by the way, today he celebrates his 75th anniversary!), which after numerous transformations turned into Aston Martin F1, absolutely does not like such approaches, and he called for the methods to be remembered from Bernie Ecclestone, former head of Formula 1 management, who did not allow the race results to be revised.

Alonso was punished for potentially dangerous driving: the stewards decided that his actions on the penultimate lap of the race led to George Russell’s accident, after which the on-track fight was neutralized by yellow flags. By the way, George’s car flew onto the track after contact with the barriers, partially blocking it and actually lying on its side, and the Mercedes driver shouted on the radio to stop the race with red flags.

As the stewards’ investigation revealed, Alonso slowed down before the 6th corner 100 meters earlier than normal, accelerated and then hit the brakes again. These actions caught Russell by surprise and his car lost some downforce, the front wheels were thrown off track and this led to a serious accident.

However, Jordan believes that these types of fines, which lead to a review of the race outcome, are fundamentally unfair – just as Ecclestone has always believed.

“I was very upset watching the race,” the Irishman said while appearing on the Formula for Success podcast, which he co-hosts with David Coulthard. “I thought Alonso finished sixth, but then some positions were taken away from him. I remember Bernie couldn’t stand this.

He used to tell timekeepers and stewards: “Never bring me revised race results 30 minutes or an hour after the finish, because it is unfair to the TV viewers, to everyone, and it just makes everyone angry.”

I also believe that if, in the opinion of the stewards, there were problems, they could fine the driver, which would deprive him of two positions at the start of the next Grand Prix. But don’t knock him out of position after the race. Why are you doing this? This is complete nonsense! Race results are race results. And if you have to impose a fine on someone, postpone the punishment for the future.”

Moreover, Eddie Jordan believes that Fernando Alonso used all his rich experience to keep the position, and it was Russell who should have acted more carefully: “I immediately suspected that Alonso acted like that, but you have to remember that he defended the position. For example, last year in Brazil we saw what he did with Sergio Perez. He then allowed him to be overtaken so that he could gain a speed advantage on the straight. Fernando is a very smart racer.

There are not many in the championship who can outsmart Alonso, I generally think he is superior to everyone in this regard. Therefore, only he knows what actually happened there (in turn 6). But it seemed to me that his car was slowing down. If this is the case, the rider riding behind must respond. The one who is behind must take the initiative, because he is the one who must figure out which actions are the most correct and safe.

But a serious accident occurred that could have serious consequences. However, this will be a lesson for George. I think he and everyone else will now be more careful when they have to fight Alonso.”