Fernando Alonso makes brutal FIA joke after using clever Japanese Grand Prix tactic

Fernando Alonso poked fun at the FIA after finishing P6 in Japan (Image: Getty)

Fernando Alonso joked that the FIA may ‘disqualify him from the championship’ for deliberately handing DRS to Oscar Piastri during the latter stages of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Upon arrival in the Japanese GP paddock, the two-time world champion was still extremely frustrated with the stewards’ decision to hand him a 20-second post-race penalty and three points on his super license for a controversial final-lap defence against George Russell in Melbourne two weeks prior.

Alonso utilised some clever tactics during Sunday’s race as well. Heading into the final few laps, the Spaniard was running in P6 with Piastri running close behind in P7 and Russell hunting them down with much fresher medium compound tyres in P8.

With Russell closing at a rate of knots, Alonso took a leaf from Carlos Sainz’s book, replicating his compatriot’s strategy from the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix and deliberately backing up, giving DRS to Piastri behind to help the Aussie defend from the charging Mercedes driver.

Oscar Piastri benefitted from the DRS of Alonso in Japan (Image: Getty)

This was working perfectly and would have allowed both himself and Piastri to hold position, but the McLaren starlet made an error at Turn 16 on the penultimate lap, allowing Russell to set up for an overtake on the final trip to Turn One. Alonso, however, was able to keep hold of his position, achieving a valuable eight-point haul for Aston Martin.

Asked after the race whether his tactics were deliberate, the veteran Spaniard responded with a cheeky dig at the FIA stewards. “I don’t know what to say, after Australia,” he said. “Maybe they disqualify me from the Championship.”

Piastri, who was also the beneficiary of Alonso’s tactics for a handful of laps, was certain that there was intent from the Aston Martin driver. He noted: “I could tell by the way he was using the energy.

“I could tell he was trying to keep me in his DRS, so George couldn’t pass me and attack him. I knew exactly what he was doing but I just made a bit of a mistake into the last chicane, locked up a bit and that was it.”

Despite turning in an impressive performance at Suzuka, Alonso was far from delighted with his predicament. Asked by Sky Sports F1 about his future beyond the end of the year, he said: “I had a lot of fun, which is great. I had one of my best weekends ever, I think, [in terms of] driving, and I’m still 44 seconds behind the leader. It doesn’t feel attractive. Let’s see.”