Damon Hill gives his verdict on Fernando Alonso’s penalty at the Australian Grand Prix

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Fernando Alonso’s 20-second penalty at the end of the Australian Grand Prix remains one of the big talking points from the weekend, and former F1 champion Damon Hill has now had his say.

The excitement was beginning to subside at the end of the race in Melbourne with the top five positions already secured and Carlos Sainz on his way to a magnificent victory.

Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, Hill shared his thoughts on the battle that ultimately led to the end of George Russell’s race and a stern talking to from the stewards for the experienced Spaniard.

Damon Hill gives verdict on Fernando Alonso penalty after Australian Grand Prix

It was no surprise to once again see Fernando Alonso outperforming his Aston Martin on Sunday.

After being out-qualified by teammate Lance Stroll for the first time this season on Saturday, the 42-year-old benefitted from a well-timed pit stop that saw him leapfrog George Russell heading into the final stint of the race.

Russell pitted for new tyres and was quickly closing down the two-time world champion, getting within DRS range for the last few laps.

However, Alonso hit the brakes and downshifted 100 metres earlier than on previous laps heading into turn six, disorientating Russell and sending him into the barriers.

His car was left in a precarious position in the middle of the track and he begged for a red flag to end the Grand Prix before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed.

They were both summoned to the stewards following the Grand Prix and after much deliberation, Alonso was handed a sanction that saw him drop to 8^th as well as being awarded three penalty points.

Damon Hill has now shared whether he thought Alonso’s penalty was fair and if it sets a precedent for future races.

It’s unlikely to change the way the Spaniard approaches battles in the future given his 20 years of experience in the sport.

Alonso debate rages on after Australian GP penalty

Asked whether he thought the Aston Martin should have been penalised, Hill said: “George [Russell] got surprised, it looked to me that he was very surprised to find the closing speed to Fernando [Alonso] to be so great.

“Or he just got too close, he was pushing too hard and got understeer because he was under his rear gearbox.

“I do think this is where we get into the difficult area of what is racing and what is dastardly tricks.

“I think you have to assume that the FIA want to stop people doing things that are potentially dangerous, but then it is dangerous! Motor racing is dangerous.

“You have to be careful when you’re going for a move on someone, if you’re closing on them you’ve got to be prepared for them to do things that are gamesmanship.

“I just think this has to be part of the sport, being wary of an individual because they’ve got form or they’re clever or whatever.

“I just think the idea that you’ve got to stop people from doing anything unexpected, that’s not really racing.”

Alonso driving for his Formula 1 future

While Hill and Alonso might agree that his penalty in Australia was slightly harsh, the 42-year-old will move on quickly with 21 races still to concentrate on.

His contract with Aston Martin expires in the winter and given the potential options he could have available to him, putting in solid performances over the next few months will have a big impact on his future.

Alonso may not be in Mercedes’s good books right now, but the German manufacturer are an option for him in 2025.

Then there’s Red Bull and if Max Verstappen decides he needs a new challenge, Alonso will certainly be on their list.

It’s not worth him switching Aston Martin for any other team on the grid right now, but signing short contracts going forward – especially with the 2026 regulation changes coming – might not be a bad idea.

If Alonso does join a new team for 2025, it could set off a chain reaction of moves up and down the grid.