10-place grid penalty for Webber in South Korea

The race stewards have decided to reprimand Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso for putting themselves in danger at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix when the Red Bull driver, on foot following his car’s mechanical failure, was given a lift by Fernando Alonso.

A few corners from the finish, Mark Webber was forced to retire. During the deceleration lap, Fernando Alonso stopped, wanting to give the Australian driver a ride back to the pits. Mark Webber then crossed the still open track to get on Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari. With one leg in Alonso’s cockpit and the other on the left sidepod, Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso returned to the pits this way. A beautiful image, but dangerous for the safety of both drivers involved, as well as others. Lewis Hamilton was notably surprised by Alonso and Webber’s maneuver and had to drive over the curb to avoid the two men.

The race stewards first reprimanded Mark Webber for not complying with Article 30.9 of the 2013 sporting regulations, which states:

« During the period starting 15 minutes before and after the trials and the period starting from the formation lap until the last car has entered the Parc Fermé, no one is allowed to go on the track, the pit entry, or exit except:

a) Track marshals and other authorized personnel to perform their duties.

b) The drivers, whether they are driving or on foot, but only after having received permission from the track marshals.

c) The team personnel to bring a race car or return to their stand once the formation lap has started.

d) The team personnel to assist the track marshals in removing a single-seater from the grid after the start of the race.

e) Team personnel to work on the car on the starting grid in case of a race suspension (referring to article 41.4). »

Mark Webber, having already received a reprimand in Bahrain for his collision with Hülkenberg and in Canada for not respecting a yellow flag, will therefore be penalized with a 10-place grid drop at the next race as stipulated by the regulations.

For this incident, Fernando Alonso was also reprimanded by the stewards for driving his car in a way that endangered himself or others.

Following these penalties, the reactions are mixed. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who had to drive off the track to avoid Alonso’s stationary Ferrari while picking up Webber, are tense about this kind of behavior.

« I was doing my cool-down lap and as I approached a corner, I saw Fernando stopped and I was quite shocked, » explains Hamilton. « I went to his right but if Mark had come across at that moment, I would have run him over. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. »

Nevertheless, Hamilton acknowledges that this kind of image is rather nice for the fans and the public: “It’s good for the fans as long as it’s done under minimum safety conditions. If you’re not crossing the track, maybe it should be allowed in the future…” the Englishman explains. “Remember Mansell and Senna… I too have sometimes wished someone would stop when I was at the side of the track…”

Christian Horner also reacted to this reprimand and believes that the stewards gave too heavy a penalty, impacting Mark Webber’s championship. Horner indeed believes that a simple fine would have been more appropriate in this kind of situation. Perhaps it would have been enough to just summon these two drivers and talk to them to ensure it doesn’t happen again…

Note that the Lotus team was also reprimanded by the race stewards after the Singapore Grand Prix due to a mechanic intervening without a helmet during Romain Grosjean’s extended pit stop.