Fernando Alonso Accuses Formula One Directors Of 'Incompetence'

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso on Friday made a blistering criticism of Formula One's current stewarding standards and accused those running the sport of incompetence. The 40-year-old Spaniard claimed that officials, notably in Miami, lacked knowledge of motor racing and had made "unfair" decisions and suggested that Niels Wittich, one of two Race Directors appointed this year to succeed Michael Masi, lacked the experience required.

Speaking ahead of his home event, this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, Alonso made clear that safety concerns raised by drivers in Miami had been ignored.

"We saw a couple of things already that proves that we still need to improve a lot," said Alonso.

"(In) racing, you need to have some knowledge about racing before being a race director -- or trying to monitor a race.

"And I don't think that knowledge is in place at the moment. I know there is a new race director here…"

The sport's ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), appointed Wittich and Eduardo Freitas after Masi was removed following his controversial handling of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

Wittich took charge of the first five races, but Freitas will take over this weekend.

"I think Freitas has a lot more experience with the World Endurance Championship, and other categories at the top level, and I think that will improve things."

Alonso has endured a difficult start to the 2022 season which continued in Miami where he was awarded two penalties during the race, incensing his Alpine team.

'Unfair' Miami He was given a five-seconds penalty for a collision with Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly and another similar one for cutting the chicane in the closing laps. The