Toto Wolff slams Fernando Alonso’s ‘dramatic’ pit lane antics at Canadian GP

Toto Wolff claims the Lewis Hamilton-Alonso near miss collision at Canadian GP was a “bit of drama” from the Spaniard

Toto Wolff slams Fernando Alonso’s ‘dramatic’ pit lane antics at Canadian GP

Toto Wolff (Image credit: Planet Sport) and Fernando Alonso (Image credit: Sportskeeda)

During the safety car period which was bought out by George Russell’s crash, both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso rushed to the pits. With Alonso’s stop finishing quicker, Hamilton was released onto his path. The Spaniard had to take evasive action to avoid his former teammate.

Team principal Toto Wolff however, didn’t believe that the incident wasn’t as theatrical as Alonso made it to be. Wolff told the media that the light steering and braking done by Alonso was merely to create a scene. He also mentioned that the Spaniard is quite skilled at making something out of nothing. The Austrian was also captured mocking Alonso’s loud steering movements.

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“[It was] a bit of drama,” said Wolff while addressing the pitlane incident. “Shaking the steering a little bit and a little bit of touching of the brakes. He is good at that, the cries of ‘I nearly hit him’… a bit of drama,” he concluded.

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However, Lewis couldn’t successfully hold Alonso behind, as the Spaniard came home in 2nd place at the Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton on the other hand finished in P3, clinching his 3rd podium of the season. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen continued his winning streak taking his 6th victory this year.

Also read: “P2 was gone,” Fernando Alonso admits he nearly accepted defeat to Lewis Hamilton after a slow start at the Canadian GP

Former Minardi boss insists Lewis Hamilton earned a 5-second penalty for pit Lane incident

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso after the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix (Image credit: Racingnews365)

Lewis Hamilton got past his old teammate Fernando Alonso at the initial exchanges of the race. This meant Hamilton was now behind race leader Max Verstappen. After George Russell’s W14 endured a crash, it triggered the safety car. Both Hamilton and Alonso rushed into the pitlanes for a change of tires.

Aston Martin had a quicker pitstop, resulting in Alonso heading down the pit lane as Mercedes released Hamilton, nearly causing a collision. The FIA after an investigation did not hand the Brit a penalty. However, former F1 team boss Paul Stoddart thinks otherwise.

In his column with Racing365.com, he mentioned how Hamilton was deserving of a 5-second penalty after the pitlane episode with Alonso. He further elaborated on how dangerous the outcome of that near-collision could have been.

“I really think that incident with Hamilton in the pit lane was worthy of a five-second penalty at the least, but was also very dangerous, because it could have ruined both their races,” the former Minardi team boss said.

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