Alonso accuses stewards of bias after sprint race

MIAMI — Fernando Alonso has accused Formula One’s stewards of being biased against Spanish drivers after Lewis Hamilton escaped a penalty for his involvement in a first-lap incident in Saturday’s sprint race in Miami.

A multi-car collision in Saturday’s sprint race saw Alonso collide with his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll in the first corner shortly before Hamilton arrived on the inside and collided with Alonso.

Alonso blamed Hamilton for the two collisions. He said he had to leave space on the inside for the Mercedes driver and made contact with Stroll, who went on to collide with Lando Norris, as a result.

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“I have to open the gap because Hamilton was coming from the inside without control of the car, so if I do that for sure I get the penalty,” Alonso said.

But speaking directly after the sprint race, the Spaniard added that he did not expect Hamilton to be penalised.

“I guess they won’t decide anything because he’s not Spanish. But I think he ruined the race for a few people.”

Asked later in the day if he truly felt nationality influenced stewards’ decisions, he added: “I do feel that nationality matters, and I will speak with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA president], with the FIA, whatever.

“I need to make sure there is not anything wrong with my nationality or anything that can influence any decision, not only for me also for the future generation of the Spanish drivers they need to be protected.”

The comments follow Aston Martin’s decision to question a penalty issued to Alonso during the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix while battling with fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

The FIA has not yet communicate if Aston Martin’s petition for a right to review has been accepted.