The 2024 season has underscored the intense competition among the bottom five teams, with a mere one-point difference separating sixth from 10th place in the standings.
However, tensions flared as multiple team managers expressed disappointment over Kevin Magnussen deliberately slowing down Tsunoda, Albon, Ocon, Sargeant and Ricciardo after receiving two 10-second penalties during the race. Haas adopted this strategy to give Nico Hulkenberg the chance to bag a point as he had not pitted behind the Safety Car.
Among those adversely affected by this tactic was Alex Albon, who initially finished behind Magnussen. However, following the application of Magnussen’s penalties, Albon moved up to 11th place, while Magnussen had to settle for 12th.
Williams Racing boss, James Vowles, discussed it in his usual post-race verdict on their website, lamented the missed opportunity to get a point, explaining his feelings about the Dane’s driving and how Albon picked up damage following the turn 4 contact that left the Thai with damage: “I know we had a car that could score a point there, and yet we walk away without anything to our name.
“Now, in part, that was because Alex’s car was damaged by Magnussen pushing him into the wall, receiving a penalty as a result of it, but then using tactics to back up the remainder of the field and create a gap so that Hulkenberg could score that additional point.
“Now those questions on whether or not those tactics are viable or not, or sportsman-like, let’s review that as an organisation and a sport going forward.
“My opinion from it is that’s not how I want to go racing.”
Expressing concerns, Albon highlighted the potential ramifications of Magnussen’s tactics amidst the fierce battle for getting points as the top five teams have a clear gap to the rest. Lance Stroll’s unforced error that led to his crash opened the door for a point to be seized upon.
“You saw it this weekend,” he said. “I think any team would do the same thing if you sacrifice one driver for guaranteed points.
“Maybe the top teams won’t do it. But the midfield teams who need to take points at any opportunity, you would do it every single time.“I think you might see more drivers doing it just to guarantee a team-mate to have points.”
Albon also criticised Magnussen’s penalty for passing Tsunoda off the track as a “bit cheeky,” asserting that it essentially guaranteed the Dane’s teammate points with his penalties taking him out of contention and playing the team game. He advocated for stricter penalties, such as mandating the return of the position, to deter such driving in the future.
“I mean, you basically guarantee your teammate points for a 10-second penalty.
“Why wouldn’t you do that everywhere? I don’t think five to 10 seconds is correct. I think it needs to be you must return the position back, and just leave it like that.”
