Otmar Szafnauer, Apline Formula 1 team principal, is fine with his drivers to race each other. He allowed Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon to compete each other if they do not lose time.
The duo competed each other at the early stage of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The traded places and gave each other tough time.
Szafnauer was seen anxious on the pit wall. He claims that the pink cars were losing time to the competitors.
Alfa Romeo driver, Valterri Bottas, and Haas driver, Kevin Magnussen, tailed behind pink cars. They were able to join the battle with Bottas on Ocon tail.
Ocon was asked to “hold station” so that both cars can stay ahead of Alfa. However, shortly after orders Bottas managed to cross the Frenchman.
Nonetheless, Ocon fought back and got his place back ahead of the Alfa. Bottas had to pit to resolve temperature issue. He finished on the sixth place after crossing Lando Norris on the last lap. However, Alonso did not finish with lost drive.
“It’s a high-speed track here, the walls are close,” said Szafnauer. “But look, they did exactly what we talked about before the race. And it was good for everybody. As it turned out had Fernando not stopped on track, we would have been sixth and seventh.
Read More: Masi and FIA in talks for a new position
“And we would have given the fans, and we did give the fans, a bit of a show. And I think that’s what it’s about. You’ve got to let them race.
“It was clean, it’s what the fans want to see. And we told them at the beginning we’ll allow them to race. I mean, the only reason I did this [head in hands] was we were losing a little bit more time than I anticipated.
“And that’s I think a little bit because the track specific stuff here, and a little bit because the cars can follow each other easier now, which was the aim of the new regulations.
“If you can follow easier, you can start overtaking each other, one lap after the next. So we’ve got to see how Melbourne goes, and then adjust.”
