Oscar Piastri has revealed that both he and McLaren held talks with the FIA in the aftermath of the Safety Car controversy at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

The Australian came under scrutiny for braking sharply behind the Safety Car, earning a time penalty that denied him victory at Silverstone.

Max Verstappen claimed he was forced to take evasive action, with the stewards siding with the Red Bull driver – a verdict that left Piastri visibly frustrated.

He kept his thoughts measured in the immediate aftermath, resisting the urge to criticise in parc ferme interviews.

But after a two-week break to reflect, Piastri has revealed the outcome of discussions held between himself, McLaren, and the FIA.

Speaking ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Piastri first reflected on the debrief with his McLaren team.

And while he was happy to move on from the incident, he pointed out that similar manoeuvres had gone unpunished in the past.

“Yeah, I obviously looked through it with the team afterwards. I think there’s been a lot of learning on both sides,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“I still have my feelings about it, I guess, but it’s in the past now and I’ve moved on.

“For me, it was a manoeuvre that had been done before by myself in some cases, but other drivers as well in the past, in an identical manner.

“Obviously, if it needs to be penalised now, then that’s fine, I know that for the future. Immediately after the race, I was frustrated.”

Piastri reflects on FIA talks clarifying Safety Car rules

A similar incident unfolded at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Verstappen was irritated by leader George Russell’s ‘erratic’ braking behind the Safety Car during a restart.

On that occasion, the stewards sided with Russell, but after a different ruling at Silverstone, the federation appears to have taken steps to better define the regulations surrounding such scenarios.

Piastri confirmed that conversations took place with the governing body to gain clarity on the matter moving forward.

“We’ve had discussions with the FIA – like I said, I think there was learning on both sides about how that situation could have been handled differently,” he added.

“For myself, I won’t brake as hard next time, it’s as simple as that. I think also now the threshold is a bit clearer on where that stands, so I would just simply not brake this hard.”

Looking ahead to the Belgian GP, Piastri revealed why Spa is his favourite track and what a win here would mean to him as he strives to protect his points lead.

“I would like to win anywhere, but here is always a track I’ve really enjoyed from the first time I came here,” he expressed.

“There’s a lot of corners here that are unique to Spa. The setting in the forest, the length of the track, the layout, and some of the iconic corners you don’t find anywhere else – that’s what I love about it.

“It’s just a very challenging layout overall, with plenty of straights for overtaking and very technical sections in Sector 2. It’s always been a track I’ve really enjoyed.”

READ MORE – Oscar Piastri explains his reluctance to adopt revised McLaren F1 front suspension

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Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher laid into Lance Stroll for his post-race radio outburst about Aston Martin’s 2025 car following the British Grand Prix.

Stroll, who was briefly in contention for a fourth career podium at Silverstone, was visibly irate as he crossed the chequered flag in seventh place.

“I mean it’s the worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven to be honest,” said Stroll to his race engineer, Gary Gannon, on the post-race team radio.

The AMR25 struggled with tyre degradation throughout the 52-lap wet-dry thriller. The Canadian driver first lost his podium place to Nico Hulkenberg owing to his withering Intermediate tyres. The last phase of the race, on slicks, saw Stroll concede further places, and a last-lap move by Pierre Gasly demoted him to seventh.

Former F1 driver Schumacher, however, was left unimpressed by Stroll’s public berating of the team’s efforts.

The ex-Williams driver questioned the Canadian’s “manners” and labelled his outburst as “an absolute no-go”.

“We are often criticised for being too harsh on him [Stroll], and maybe we are sometimes,” he told Sky Deutschland.

“I have to say, this statement is very disappointing, and quite honestly, it’s a question of manners. You have to imagine the external impact.

“The mechanics who work there day in, day out so that the two can race – and then the boss’s son comes along and says: ‘Wonderful, and with such a crappy car.’ I have to say, that’s completely unacceptable, that’s an absolute no-go.”

Schumacher urges Stroll to apologise

Stroll has come under scrutiny for his public display of emotions in the past. At the 2023 Qatar GP, Stroll was seen pushing trainer Henry Howe after failing to make it out of Q1.

Schumacher believes that such incidents, where Stroll lets his emotions get the better of him, are only making matters worse for his public image among fans.

He also urged the 26-year-old to promptly accept his fault and apologise to the entire team.

“I would hope that at the next race he goes and apologises. It’s just a shame, unspeakable, and it indicates a poor upbringing,” Schumacher explained.

“I don’t know what movie he thinks he is in, but such statements diminish his own results. These are important points, after all. One mustn’t forget: These are also important bonuses for the mechanics and the like.”

“And when someone then ruins it like that – quite honestly, you have to say: Grade F, dear Lance – and apologise to the team.”

READ MORE – Lance Stroll slams ‘sad’ F1 2026 regulations that drivers won’t criticise for ‘political reasons’

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McLaren is preparing to introduce a new floor upgrade in the coming races after promising early data gathered during FP1 at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

Despite victories for Mercedes in Canada and Red Bull at Imola and Japan, McLaren has maintained a commanding 238-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship.

Championship leader Oscar Piastri and team-mate Norris are separated by eight points, with the Australian driver holding a comfortable 69-point gap over Max Verstappen in third.

Yet McLaren is planning to build on its performance this season, as revealed by Team Principal Andrea Stella.

Stella disclosed that a revised floor upgrade was on its way, after an initial trial at Silverstone designed to provide valuable insights ahead of upcoming Sprint events where upgrades are harder to implement.

Encouraged by the results, McLaren is set to boost its championship-leading car’s performance with the new specification soon.

“With the new floor in FP1, the plan was always going to be that the floor was a test floor,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.

“[It is so we can get an] early read of this new specification, because the next race is a Sprint event where it is more difficult to introduce a new specification, and make proper comparisons.

“We are actually pretty pleased with what we have seen in FP1. All the indications are leading us to introduce this new floor at upcoming events.”

The latest developments introduced to the MCL39 have been focused on helping Norris find comfort with the car to address his qualifying woes this season.

The Briton took the revised update introduced at the Red Bull Ring, Piastri sticking with the older spec version from Canada.

McLaren not easing off despite sizeable points lead

Despite holding a substantial points lead in both standings, McLaren is refusing to let complacency creep in as the F1 season heads into the second half.

Stella underlined that while the team’s recent form has been exceptional, success in this sport is never guaranteed.

“The performance we saw in Canada, that as soon as you drop the ball, you don’t win anymore,” Stella said at a McLaren live event in London earlier this month.

“So winning is not given for granted. Winning is something that you have to earn. You have to earn it in terms of preparation, you have to earn it on the ground.”

When asked how McLaren will approach the remaining rounds with a potential championship double on the line, the 54-year-old made it clear that the team’s strategy will remain the same.

“Well, the next strategy is to keep doing what we are doing,” he explained. “Which is not only in terms of trying to achieve the same results but also have the same determination we need to maximise the potential of what’s available.

“The mission for the second part of the season is to go try and do our best to try to maximise our potential and keep winning races, keep giving our fans plenty of emotions.”

READ MORE – The ‘easy’ McLaren decision that has come to haunt Mercedes in F1

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Fernando Alonso revealed that Aston Martin’s upgrade package at Formula 1‘s British Grand Prix didn’t provide as large a performance boost as the team hoped.

With several teams bringing fresh upgrades to Silverstone, the midfield battle in F1 is heating up.

While Sauber has made clear progress recently, promoting the team to sixth in the Constructors’ Standings, Aston Martin’s quiet resurgence is starting to make waves behind.

A double points finish at Silverstone helped the British marque leapfrog Haas into eighth and draw level with Racing Bulls in seventh place.

Alonso has been in strong form as of late, and after scoring his first points of the season at his home race in Spain, he followed that up with three consecutive top-10 finishes.

That turnaround was sparked by an upgrade package introduced at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

However, after qualifying seventh at Silverstone, the Spaniard admitted the latest package brought to Britain hasn’t had quite the same impact so far.

“Yeah, upgrades were tested yesterday, with a slight advantage to the new package, but small, so it took a little bit of time to really analyse the data and see the differences,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“So, yeah, obviously a small step in the right direction, we take it for sure, but we thought the upgrades that everyone brought here, it seems that you level yourself, you don’t make a big step forward. And yeah, in qualifying, it’s what we saw.”

Despite capitalising on George Russell and Charles Leclerc’s misfortune, Alonso finished ninth, losing positions to drivers down the order amid mixed weather at Silverstone.

Alonso confident in Aston Martin’s progress

But although Alonso remains encouraged by Aston Martin’s progress this season, he conceded that the latest upgrade at Silverstone didn’t quite deliver as hoped.

The veteran did, however, stress the ongoing need for setup refinement when introducing updates and expressed confidence in the overall package going forward.

“Absolutely, I think what we brought so far to the track seems to work and deliver the expectations, even sometimes a little bit more than expected, sometimes a little bit less than expected,” he added.

“Maybe the Imola upgrade was more than expected and this one at the moment less.

“But still to optimise the setup and always when you bring a package, there is always a different ride height window where the package operates.

“There is always maybe some tweaks in the suspension, going softer, stiffer and things like that.

“So I think in the next races we will see a better, a more performing package.”

When asked whether he is feeling ‘at one’ with the car since the updates at Imola, the 43-year-old acknowledged the distinct nature of the Silverstone layout.

“It’s a very unique circuit, a lot of high speed here, the car feels good in the high speed,” he explained.

“So I don’t know if it’s the updated package. I only tested the new package; it was only Lance [Stroll] testing the old car yesterday, so I don’t know.

“I felt good in the car all weekend, so it’s a positive step for sure.”

READ MORE – Fernando Alonso slams ‘bulls**t’ narrative amid missed opportunity in F1 British GP

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Arvid Lindblad marked an impressive milestone at the British Grand Prix with Red Bull, stepping into a Formula 1 car for the first time during Friday practice at Silverstone.

The 17-year-old caught the attention of the team’s top brass with his speed, composure, and insightful feedback, signalling a promising future within the junior program.

Lindblad stepped into Yuki Tsunoda’s RB21 for FP1, finishing 14th and just over half a second off Max Verstappen’s best lap time in his first F1 outing.

A year ago, he was winning both the Sprint and Feature races at Silverstone in Formula 3 before making the jump to Formula 2 this season with Campos Racing.

Currently sixth in the F2 championship with two victories, the Briton is on track to secure a bright future, especially amid uncertainty over Red Bull’s second driver seat.

His performance at the British GP earned high praise from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who reflected on Lindblad’s outing after the weekend.

“Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad took part in free practice for Red Bull Racing for the first time at Silverstone,” Marko told Speedweek in his latest column.

“In our opinion, the teenager did a great job – his speed was spot on, his comments were insightful, and the technicians are very satisfied with his performance.

“Lindblad was back in the car the week after the Silverstone Grand Prix, completing more than 100 laps and demonstrating excellent physical condition and competitive lap times.”

Prior to being asked to step down this week, the now-departed Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner also lauded Lindblad’s showing.

“I thought he equated himself very well,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“I mean, he’s obviously another product of the junior team – he’s a talented young guy, only 17 years of age.

“To jump into the car here at this circuit, which is a tough circuit, to be only within half a second, I thought he equated himself very well.

“His feedback was clear and concise, and yeah, he’s definitely a prospect for the future.”

Lindblad thrilled by F1 debut and early integration into Red Bull program

The teenager was understandably thrilled with making his debut outing in an F1 car at Silverstone.

“Yeah, it was amazing – I’m extremely grateful to everyone at Red Bull for the opportunity, and yeah, amazing to get my first official F1 session,” he expressed.

Reflecting on his performance and the feedback he provided to the team, Lindblad added: “I think I did decent; I felt comfortable in the car and I think the speed was okay.

“I think I could definitely go a bit quicker with a few more laps, but I think considering it was my first time in a car, I’ve only done very limited running in an F1.

“For example, this weekend, I think it’s 13, 14 seconds quicker than F2. So the step is enormous.

“So I think all that considered, with a limited prep, I’m quite happy with the job today.”

When asked if he had started to feel embedded within the team, he explained: “A little bit, yeah.

“I mean, obviously I’m racing in Formula 2, so that’s my main job. But no, Red Bull have been really supportive.

“I’ve been working closely with the engineers for a little while now, getting more up to speed and understanding a bit the game and sort of the level here in F1. So no, it’s been really good.”

READ MORE – Bernie Ecclestone surmises events that led to ‘idiot’ Christian Horner enduring Red Bull axe

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Lance Stroll fumed on the team radio post-race after losing out on a possible podium finish for Aston Martin in the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

Stroll began the 52-lap race from 17th on the grid, but the mixed conditions at Silverstone played out in favour of the Canadian.

The 26-year-old was running as high as third during the Grand Prix after Max Verstappen spun out at Stowe at the end of the second Safety Car period.

But as the weather cleared up and DRS was enabled, Stroll was forced to yield the position to Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, with the former’s Intermediate tyres giving up.

“The Intermediate tyre, just losing 20 seconds of race time compared to the Sauber at one point in the race, just huge degradation,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

Stroll then lost a place to Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari prior to coming into the pits to return to slicks as the track dried.

But the last seven laps saw Stroll concede two more positions and drop down to seventh at the chequered flag, including a last-lap move pulled off by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

“Yeah crazy is an understatement, I mean it’s the worst piece of sh*t I’ve ever driven to be honest,” he barked back in response to his engineer on the cooldown lap.

Why Aston Martin lost out on British GP podium

The chequered flag saw Alonso back his team-mate up in ninth, making it a first double points finish for the Silverstone-based squad in 2025.

On the face of it, the result should have come as a welcome surprise for the team, given its struggles for scoring consistent points this season.

However, Stroll believes that while the team managed to execute a near-perfect race, the AMR25 eventually let him down.

“The Sauber had a lot more grip today, so they had a much faster car,” he conceded.

“I think the result was good. I think we had a lot of degradation and couldn’t really fight with that kind of degradation.

“That final stint [on the Softs] and also the Intermediate tyre, just loads of degradation. I think with the degradation we have, we couldn’t have gotten a better result, honestly.

“I was barely able to stay on the track at the end with the Soft tyre because it was just completely grained.

“So yeah, with that kind of degradation, it’s going to be hard to fight, but it’s a good result, good strategy calls, so that was good.”

READ MORE – Fernando Alonso slams ‘bulls**t’ narrative amid missed opportunity in F1 British GP

The post Lance Stroll: Aston Martin 2025 F1 car ‘worst piece of s**t I’ve driven’ in British GP appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Carlos Sainz conveyed his frustration at the current rate of bad luck afflicting his Formula 1 season, saying he is “fed up” with how he has been on the wrong end of certain situations.

The Spaniard was on course for points at the British Grand Prix, but was taken out of contention by Charles Leclerc late in the race in an unseen incident at Stowe, where the Monegasque’s Ferrari slid wide, knocking into the Williams.

It continued a recurring theme of Sainz’s year, in which many times he has been likely to score good points, but ultimately finds himself in a situation where he is the innocent party.

After the race, Sainz told media including Motorsport Week that he is becoming increasingly frustrated at how his luck is failing to improve.

“It [the race] was going well,” he said. “A bit like the whole year so far, we were doing everything right. Good strategy goals, good driving. P7, P8 at the time.

“10 laps to go when I was fighting with Charles. I think he was on his outlap on the slicks. He lost control of the car and crashed into me. And that was it.

“I went back to P12 with a damaged car. And I finished P12. So again, very unlucky. A bit fed up with this situation where always something happens to us that is out of our control.”

“No offence to Charles, this always can happen to any driver. But just upset with the fact that it happened to me today again when we were about to have a clean weekend and a clean race.”

Sainz ‘welcomes two-week break’

When Sainz was asked if he took some sort of relief in the result, given it had been better than some of his other recent ones, he was resolute in his negative response.

“No, I’ve had a very disappointing result,” he replied. “P12 when I was running P7, 10 laps to go. We’ve had retirements before. No, for me at 12th it’s like retiring. In the position we are.

“It feels like a retirement, especially because we were running P7, P8. We had done everything right. Yes, maybe the others took a bit more gambles on the strategy calls.

“Maybe they will look into what Nico [Hulkenberg] did. [Lance] Stroll, I think, did a couple of also good calls maybe. But we did a very solid race with management of the pace and the race.

“So we’re in the ideal position to score a top-seven result. And suddenly fighting with Charles, he lost control of the car and took me out. It’s what it is.

“There’s nothing we can do. I welcome this two-week break to see if something changes in my life so we can start having an F1 season, because this has been everything but good so far.”

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg gets his long-deserved F1 moment in the sun

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Sauber Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has revealed that Lewis Hamilton offered words of encouragement to Gabriel Bortoleto after the Formula 1 rookie retired from the British Grand Prix.

While it was a day to remember for his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who secured his first-ever F1 podium, Bortoleto’s race ended after just three laps.

One of Hulkenberg’s standout decisions came before the lights even went out, choosing not to switch to slicks during the formation lap as changing track conditions created uncertainty.

The Brazilian, however, was one of three rookies who opted to swap off the intermediate tyres — a gamble that didn’t pay off. He lost control exiting the Hamilton Straight and spun into the gravel.

Though he initially managed to keep the car running, damage sustained in the incident forced him to retire shortly after, pulling off near the Maggots and Becketts section.

Rather than heading straight back to the team motorhome after his early exit, Bortoleto returned to the garage to support his team — cheering on veteran team-mate Hulkenberg all the way to the chequered flag.

The 20-year-old showed his sportsmanship by congratulating the German over the team radio, then meeting him in parc ferme to offer his support in person.

In a moment that helped soften the sting of retirement, Bortoleto was also approached by Hamilton — the Ferrari driver who narrowly missed out on extending his Silverstone podium streak — but still took the time to console the young Sauber driver, as Wheatley revealed.

“I feel for Gabriel – it’s easy to forget that it’s his first season in Formula One and Lewis had some kind words for him after the race just to reassure him,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“Gabriel will learn from this; he’ll get stronger.”

Listening, learning and growing: Bortoleto’s rise despite setbacks

After stepping out of the car, the rookie didn’t switch off. Instead, he stayed on the team radio, listening in on his team-mate’s race from start to finish — closely observing the communication, strategy, and decision-making in real time.

Team boss Wheatley praised that mindset, highlighting the young driver’s hunger to grow

“Gabriel has a tremendous work ethic and he has a capacity for learning – he wants to learn,” he said.

“He’s drawing information out of everything. He takes information in from everywhere.

“I think for him to sit there in those conditions and listen to Nico asking all the right questions and conversations on the radio, it’s only going to make him stronger.”

He opened his points account just one week earlier at the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing eighth — notably ahead of his more experienced team-mate — as the team continues its steady climb up the midfield.

With a strong run of form over the past three races, the Swiss outfit now sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, just 18 points shy of Williams.

For the rookie, Silverstone may not have delivered the result he hoped for, but his attitude — both in adversity and in learning — continues to underline why he’s considered one of the most promising young talents on the grid.

READ MORE — How collective Sauber effort helped Nico Hulkenberg capture maiden F1 podium

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The British Grand Prix is one of the marquee events of the Formula 1 calendar, but holding it successfully would not be possible without the help of some of the hard-working volunteers who make the race weekend run smoothly: the Race Makers.

It’s Sunday night and we are absolutely shattered. Physically shot. Mentally drained. But, as the sun sets, casting an eerie pink hue across the Northamptonshire countryside, we clink glasses with a small group of ‘Race Makers’ gathered around our campervan, to toast yet another epic British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The deafening engines and the roars of the crowd have subsided, and the only sounds are the laughter and conversation among the other groups like ours.

Rachel and I are just two of 500 Race Makers; Silverstone’s volunteer program, which started over a decade ago, with the aim to enhance the customer experience, much like the 2012 ‘Games Makers’ did for the London Olympics. 

We have walked the best part of 100,000 steps in the past four days and been part of an event which has delighted over half a million customers. 12 months of precision planning and preparation boil down to three days on track, 20 cars, 10 teams, three drivers on the podium and just one winner. This year a British driver, from a British team, winning the British Grand Prix is an extra special experience, but the result is just a very small part of sending half a million fans home happy.

Getting up close and personal with Keanu Reeves, Gordon Ramsey, Sir Jackie Stewart, countless A-list actors and other celebrities is just as rewarding as supporting the hundreds of fans who have queued since before dawn and sprinted to the paddock entrance to get a glimpse of one of their heroes. We help hundreds of fans find their grandstand, locate a merch store, find a loo or get urgent medical attention in the event of a fall or sudden loss of blood pressure. Making people smile is our only job, but it is so much more than that.

Over the last decade and more, the Race Maker program has evolved dramatically and plays a large part in Silverstone having one of the highest CX ratings on the circuit. Rachel and I have been coming to the Grand Prix as guests since 2010, but our experience has been elevated since joining the volunteer program in 2022. 

We are now part of a huge team, young and old, from all walks of life who give up their precious time to volunteer at this epic event. Being responsible for delivering great customer service is clearly a powerful pull factor as many of us keep coming back year after year.  Putting smiles on so many faces clearly overrides the 5 am alarms and the aching legs, and reflecting on the days trials and tribulations with our colleagues over some hot food and a cold beverage is a brilliant way to relax after a long, hard day.

Every year the experience as a Race Maker gets better and better and it’s a good job, as the event keeps getting bigger and bigger with more and more fans. It’s a huge privilege to play our part in the magical experiences that many of the fans will never forget. 

As volunteers, we don’t get paid. Our campsite is covered, along with all our meals for the weekend and we are afforded access to all the entertainment once our shifts are finished and we get to see our fair share of track action too. We have seen some exceptional concerts and many up-and-coming acts over the years. For us, Tom Grennan has to be a particular highlight – what a performance!

But being a Race Maker is no walk in the park. With over half a million people attending over the weekend, our communication and people management skills are put to the test as we encounter our fair share of rude, drunk, stressed and sometimes disappointed people, but it’s the smiles we help to create that keep us committed. 

Attending a Grand Prix weekend is extremely trying for everyone and seeing so many fans with accessibility needs, toughing it out to enjoy this amazing sport in person is extremely inspirational; so helping a Williams fan with terminal cancer grab a selfie and a signature was a very wholesome moment.

Being so close to the teams, drivers and their families requires exceptional security teams to maintain safety whilst we concentrate on helping the fans have the best experience. The support we got this year from the BPS team made everyone’s experience so much better.  This was a timely upgrade with the new Fan Forecourt area bringing so many more people to the inner track. We hope they are asked to provide close protection next year.

Race Makers can be spotted in grandstands, public areas and hospitality suites; on the perimeter and in the centre of the track so if you need anything at one of Silverstone’s major events (F1, MotoGP, BSB or Festival / Classic) then seek out one of the volunteers in a pink T-shirt. 

Silverstone’s continued investment and development of this program is a testament to their commitment to delivering best-in-class CX at all their events. The camaraderie developed among an ever-growing bunch of volunteers is incredible and has enabled us to meet an eclectic bunch and develop some lifelong friendships.

Being a Race Maker has given us an unrivalled perspective of F1 at Silverstone, made the event even more special than we thought possible and enabled us to attend Grand Prix in other countries as paying guests. Until the next event we can put our feet up and our pink t-shirts away. 

READ MORE – Motorsport Week’s F1 2025 British GP Driver Ratings

The post The Race Makers: The stars behind the scenes at Silverstone appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Fernando Alonso vented his frustration at Aston Martin’s strategy at the British Grand Prix, saying the notion that it is Formula 1 drivers who make decisions in bad weather is “bulls**t”.

The Spaniard started the race at Silverstone seventh and finished eighth, having been leapfrogged by team-mate Lance Stroll, who finished seventh having started 18th.

Stroll and Alonso’s strategies were quite contrasting; the Canadian pitting early during the Virtual Safety Car period, which enabled him to jump through the order, as other drivers began to struggle on the Intermediates on which they started.

He then reacted quickly to pit just four laps later, Lap 10, as the rain began to fall once again.

Alonso, however, pitted a lap later than this, which saw him drop back. He would pit for slicks on Lap 37, which on this occasion was too early.

After the race, Alonso said the team had missed a big chance to score higher – Stroll was even on for a podium at one stage – and conveyed his bewilderment that decisions made on his team-mate’s side of the garage seem to be more effective.

“It was a very hard race to execute, and for us, it ended up being a missed opportunity,” he told DAZN.

“I’m not happy, obviously. We started seventh and finished ninth – we executed something badly.

“Usually in these kinds of situations, his [Stroll] side of the garage tends to be more accurate. They did well.

“In fact, Lance pitted twice before I even made my first stop, which put him up in third.

“That’s why sometimes I find it hard to understand, because we have another car giving us information, and if that car is in third place, I don’t know how we can’t use that information from our side of the garage. It’s in-house.”

Alonso frustrated by lack of information

Alonso indicated that the stops were team calls, and with those on the pit wall able to see everything around him in the race better than he can, he has no choice but to heed the advice.

“I have the experience, but I don’t have the data,” said Alonso. “When they call me to pit, I pit. I can feed back the track conditions, but I cannot do much more than that.

“Whoever says that the driver makes [the decisions in] these conditions and wins the races, it’s bulls**t.”

Alonso said the decision to pit too early for slicks was made by the belief his Intermediates’ heat was diminishing, but ultimately, it cost him almost half a minute.

“This is just a data-driven race with all the parameters we have in the car. I think the first stop was difficult to read, I understand that,” he added.

“I think [Lewis] Hamilton, [George] Russell, [Pierre] Gasly, Carlos [Sainz], myself, we all stopped on one lap.

“Obviously, we were P5, P6, P7, so it’s very difficult to gamble in that moment of the race.

“But we exited behind Esteban [Ocon], Lance, Nico [Hulkenberg], a lot of cars that made a better call on the first stop. And then the second [stop]… I was the first one to pit for dry.

“The team thought that the Inter tyre was losing temperature on the surface and it was the moment to pit. And I lost like 25 seconds again, so yeah, it was frustrating.”

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg gets his long-deserved F1 moment in the sun

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