Bradford Fumes Over Double Drive-Throughs while Alpha Tauri Points Finger at FIA

Bradford Fumes Over Double Drive-Throughs in Monaco: Alpha Tauri Defends Rossi, Points Finger at FIA Timing

Rum Balls Bradford's Monaco Grand Prix was a race of two halves. Leading comfortably for much of the afternoon, a chaotic Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period saw the British driver slapped with not one, but two drive-through penalties in quick succession - penalties that turned his serene drive into something closer to farce.

Bradford reacts with a stunned silence as the farcical penalties are given by race control

This incident has eerie echoes of the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier in the season, where Alpha Tauri's Eris Bernoulli-Bruschetta was hit with a triple whammy of drive-through penalties under a full Safety Car. Back then, the team swiftly blamed their former race engineer, Giorgio, for bungling the situation. In contrast, Alpha Tauri has come out in full support of their new engineer, Sofia "The Stopwatch" Rossi, insisting that this time the fault lies not with them but with the FIA's timing system. Alpha Tauri team principal Franz Tost is on the record, doubling down on the team's stance: "Sofia is one of the most talented engineers in the paddock. The problem lies not with our team, but with inconsistent FIA regulations and timing equipment. This is Monaco, not amateur hour."

We sat down with Bradford after the race to unpack the madness.

The гонки: Rum, that race had everything - except the win you were on track for. Walk us through what happened with those penalties.

Bradford: Oh mate, where do I start? I was miles ahead, running like clockwork, then we get this Virtual Safety Car. So, we do what anyone would - bring it into the pits to save time. But the second I'm rolling into the pit lane, I get slapped with a drive-through. I mean, what on earth? I was green by more than a second on the delta! It was baffling.

The гонки: You seemed absolutely livid on the radio. Do you now have any idea what the penalty was for?

Bradford: Not a clue! I was gobsmacked, to be honest. I've got Sofia on the radio - she's brilliant, by the way - telling me we're all good, bang on the numbers, inside the delta. Then out of nowhere, bam, drive-through. Honestly, you couldn't write it. This isn't like Bahrain, where we had the whole Giorgio disaster, this was totally different. This time, we did everything by the book.

The гонки: Right, Bahrain... In that race, Alpha Tauri owned up to the mistakes. What's different about today?

Bradford: Oh, Bahrain was a shambles, no doubt about that. Poor Giorgio completely lost the plot under the Safety Car. But this time around? Completely different story. We've got Sofia in charge now, and she's been absolutely spot-on. Nah, this wasn't on us. It's those FIA timing gremlins. We're inside the delta, and then bang, penalty. It's a bit rich, isn't it? Their timing methods are what need reviewing, not our strategy calls. There's something seriously wrong when drivers are being penalized for following the rules to the letter.

The гонки: And then, just as you're leaving the pits, you get hit with a second drive-through. What happened there?

Bradford: Oh, don't remind me. I thought the VSC was ending - I mean, there was nothing on the dash for a few seconds. So, like anyone would, I started speeding back up, assuming we're back to racing. Then, out of nowhere, the delta pops back on and shows I'm in the red - by like, 0.018 seconds or something silly. I'm telling you, it was like some sort of magic trick. What am I supposed to do - have psychic powers? One minute, I'm coasting; the next minute, I've got another penalty. It's like one of those bad dreams where you can't win no matter what you do.

The гонки: Alpha Tauri has been very vocal in defending Sofia Rossi, in stark contrast to what happened with Giorgio in Bahrain. So, no doubts about her performance this time?

Bradford: Sofia? Not a chance. She's top-notch, mate. I've never seen anyone so precise with the timing - that's why we call her "The Stopwatch". We trust her completely. She had the situation under control; it's the timing system that mucked up. Do they seriously think their amateurish system's better than our Stopwatch Sofia? That's laughable.

The гонки: You really trust her judgment then?

Bradford: Absolutely. Sofia's got a knack for keeping things cool, even when everything else goes mad. You couldn't ask for a more level-headed engineer. If you're asking me whether the timing's better in her hands or the FIA's, I know where I'd put my money!

The гонки: It seems like Alpha Tauri isn't just contesting the penalties but raising concerns about the FIA's timing system. That's a big claim to make.

Bradford: Look, we're not just kicking up a fuss for no reason. We've got the data, and it shows we were bang on. The first penalty made zero sense. I was inside the delta on entry, and I did everything by the rules. Then, suddenly, we're getting penalties for what? It's all a bit dodgy. And the second... well, that was just comical. I mean, I've been racing for years and I've never seen anything like it.

The гонки: So, you really believe the FIA timing system is flawed?

Bradford: I mean, it's hard not to wonder, isn't it? I'm not usually one to throw shade around, but you have to ask questions when stuff like this happens. We're all playing by the same rules, but if the timing's off, it's not just me who's affected. I'm not saying they're out to get us, but something's not right with how it played out today. You have to ask the question when something so bizarre happens.

The гонки: Despite all the chaos, you still managed to fight back to second place. That dive-bomb on Phoenix Deutschland at the Nouvelle Chicane was pretty bold!

Bradford: Yeah, had to make something happen, didn't I? It's Monaco - you don't get many chances to overtake, so I just sent it. A bit cheeky, but it worked!

Bradford's view of the Haas disasterclass which eventually led to his P2 finish

The гонки: And then you were right on Sajiki Jones' tail for the lead until that unfortunate run-in.

Bradford: Ah yeah, that one stings. I went for the move again into Nouvelle, but he shut the door on me pretty hard, didn't he? Ended up smacking the barriers, lost my front wing, and had to pit again. That was pretty much it for me. Still, got back up to second in the end, so not too shabby, considering.

The гонки: It's been quite a rollercoaster for you, Rum. Do you think the FIA will respond to Alpha Tauri's concerns?

Bradford: Who knows? I wouldn't hold my breath. But if they're serious about fair play, they'll have to take a good hard look at what happened today. We've done our part, and now it's on them.

Bradford's Monaco race was anything but ordinary, and despite the penalties, the British driver's determination shone through. Whether the FIA's timing system is truly to blame or not, one thing's clear: Alpha Tauri, and especially Sofia Rossi, have Bradford's full support. Whether the penalties were truly unjust or just a freak series of events, one thing's for sure - Formula Odin never fails to deliver on the drama.