Meanwhile, Alpine have thanked the FIA for reaching “a positive conclusion” before the Mexico Grand Prix. Alonso had said ahead of Thursday’s hearing: “There are a couple of things that are very clear that were made wrong from [the FIA’s] side, and I am very confident I will be P7 [again]. We protest basically because it was out of time.
“The FIA did not show me the black and orange flag [in the race] so they thought [the car] what safe. The car went to parc ferme and passed [its inspection]and then the protest arrived too late, so all in all there is no doubt this is not the right decision.”
Commenting on what he saw as implications had the appeal not been upheld, Alonso said: “If it is the right decision, 50-60 percent of people will have to retire if they have an aero device that is not fixed. If 20 mins is not too late, is one hour too late, is one day too late? When is too late? We don’t want to open that door.”
