Mark Webber has labelled as “comical” the decision by Formula One stewards to punish him and fellow driver Fernando Alonso for sharing a ride at the end of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Webber was hit with a 10-place grid penalty for the championship’s next race in South Korea after running onto the street circuit to hitch a lift back to pit lane on the sidepod of Alonso’s Ferrari.
The Australian Red Bull pilot had pulled off the track with his car in flames after an engine failure on the final lap of the race, won by his teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Alonso was also cited for his actions, which the stewards said could have been dangerous to other drivers who had to take evasive steps to avoid both Webber and Alonso’s stationary Ferrari on their slowdown laps.
But Webber, who is retiring from the sport at season’s end, took exception. “For @alo_oficial and me to receive reprimands for our actions after the race it is comical to say the least. Great moment, and fans loved it,” he said on Twitter on Tuesday.
“And while I’m at it, contrary to reports ,there was no interaction at all with any track officials after we put the fire out.”
He later added: ” I have full trust in the follow top drivers at 280k between the walls,so I can trust them at 60/70k on cool down lap.”
The 37-year-old also posted a photo of himself aboard Alonso’s Ferrari as part of a collage showing a dozen other cases of drivers riding on the side of a Formula One car – including the iconic image of Nigel Mansell giving Ayrton Senna a lift home at the 1991 British Grand Prix.
“Yes I thought it had been done before.” he wrote.
Webber later took aim at one of the stewards at Singapore, Derek Warwick, by posting an image of him aboard Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari at the 1988 Japanese Grand Prix with the caption: “Looks like even one of the Singapore stewards has done it #C’estlavie”.
Webber has received a swell of support from both the public and fellow drivers, including countryman Daniel Ricciardo – who will succeed Webber at Red Bull next season – and good friend Jenson Button of McLaren.
“Disappointed to see the penalties for @AussieGrit and @alo_oficial, act of sportsmanship should not really be punished.” Button tweeted.
David Brabham, a former Formula One driver and son of Australian motor racing legend Sir Jack Brabham, also shared his disappointment, responding to Webber’s posts on Twitter with: “sadly how things change.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has also been critical of the stewards’ decision to impose such a harsh penalty, saying on Sunday it should have been dealt with by a fine or a slap on the wrist.
“Perhaps, in this instance, a talking to the drivers would have sufficed,” he told Autosport.
“Ideally a fine would have been better, but I don’t believe that is something available to the stewards now.”
