Fernando Alonso is under investigation from the Australian Grand Prix stewards following a scary crash that ended George Russell’s race.
The annual Formula 1 race – won by Carlos Sainz – finished under the virtual safety car, ensuring there was no racing for most of the final lap, after Mercedes driver Russell crashed on turn seven.
British star Russell was challenging Alonso for sixth place and commentator Martin Brundle suggested that Mercedes would claim Aston Martin’s Alonso ‘brake tested’ Russell.
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“Obviously I was focusing in front of me and not behind,” Alonso said.
“I had some issues for the last 15 laps or something on the battery, on the deployment, so definitely I was struggling a little bit at the end of the race but I cannot focus on the car behind.
“But he’s OK, apparently. I saw the car and I was very worried.”
Russell was unharmed by the incident but his car was a mess.
“We’re off to the stewards, so that’s a bit bizarre in a circumstance like this,” Russell said.
“It’s clear that he braked, you know, 100m before the corner and then went back on the throttle again and took the corner. We’ve already seen the data of that.
“I’m not going to accuse him of anything until we see further. I was right behind him for many, many laps. I was half a second behind him before the corner.
“Then, suddenly he slowed up dramatically and got back on the power. I wasn’t expecting it and he caught me by surprise.
“That part is on me. It’s interesting he’s been called by the stewards. I’m intrigued as to what they have to say.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc of Monaco finished second with Britain’s Lando Norris third and Australia’s Oscar Piastri fourth at Albert Park.
World champion Max Verstappen was forced out of the race early with mechanical failure while Lewis Hamilton also failed to finish on a dramatic afternoon of Formula 1.
