‘It’s unfair’ - Formula 1 drivers including Alonso and Gasly unite against Kevin Magnussen’s race ban

In the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 community has rallied behind Kevin Magnussen after the Haas driver was handed a one-race ban for accumulating 12 penalty points on his super licence. The final points that triggered the ban were applied after a minor incident involving Pierre Gasly, which has sparked debate among fellow drivers and fans alike.

The incident occurred when Magnussen and Gasly went side by side into the Variante della Roggia chicane, resulting in slight contact that caused neither driver to make the corner. Despite this, Magnussen managed to finish ninth, only to be demoted to tenth after receiving a 10-second penalty. The penalty came with two additional penalty points, pushing Magnussen’s total to the threshold required for an automatic race ban.

Gasly, who was directly involved in the incident, was quick to defend Magnussen, describing the contact as "nothing" more than typical wheel-to-wheel racing. He expressed his surprise at the severity of the penalty and voiced his willingness to support Magnussen in overturning the decision.

"Honestly, this was nothing," Gasly remarked, emphasizing that the minor contact had little impact on the race. "Someone told me he got a 10-second penalty. I was a bit surprised because it was a bit of wheel-to-wheel, and in the end, I didn't lose any time. I hope somehow they can revert on that because that would be unfair."

Fernando Alonso echoes Gasly’s views

Gasly’s sentiments were echoed by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who questioned the application of penalty points for what he deemed minor infractions. Alonso argued that penalty points should be reserved for genuinely dangerous driving rather than routine racing incidents.

"100% [I feel sympathy] because penalty points, as we discussed many times, should be for dangerous driving," Alonso said. He pointed out that some of the points Magnussen had accumulated were for infractions like crossing the pitlane white line or unsafe releases, which he believed should result in time penalties rather than points that could lead to a race ban.

Alonso’s support highlights a growing concern within the paddock about the consistency and fairness of the penalty system, especially when it comes to incidents that are part and parcel of racing. The Haas team, led by principal Ayao Komatsu, has so far refrained from making public statements on the matter, opting instead to discuss the issue privately with the stewards.