FIA Told Alonso to Let Kubica Re-Pass, Says Race Director

FIA’s Race Director says he told Ferrari to tell Fernando Alonso to let Renault’s Robert Kubic to re-pass Alonso.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso drives away from Renault's Robert Kubica during lap 17 of the British Formula One Grand Prix. Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images

FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting reports that stewards told Ferrari three times to return to Renault’s Robert Kubica, the position Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso gained by going off the track. FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) is the sanctioning body controlling Formula One racing.

Although the stewards did not issue a drive-through penalty until ten laps after the incident in Sunday’s Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Whiting says Ferrari was told immediately after the offending maneuver.

““We told Ferrari three times that in my opinion they should give the position back to Kubica,” Whiting told Autosprint magazine. “We told them that immediately, right after the overtaking maneuver. On the radio, I suggested to them that if they exchange position again, there would be no need for the stewards to intervene.”

Whiting claims that after the third warning, Ferrari told him Kubica was too far back to let him pass.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said that Ferrari was not informed until too late.