Alonso & Grosjean Fail to Make Autograph Session in Valencia

Neither Fernando Alonso, nor Romain Grosjean managed to make it to the Thursday autograph session of the European Grand Prix at Valencia. According to the current FIA rules, all drivers selected by the stewards must attend the autograph session, regardless of their schedule with the teams in the F1 paddock.

According to a FIA-released document, it seems neither of the two Renault drivers were present at the aforementioned session, therefore risking a financial penalty from the international body. It also stated that the Enstone based team was told from as early as the 31st of July that it needs to have both drivers at the autograph session, yet they didn't appear.

“The stewards remind the competitor (Renault) and the drivers concerned of the obligation to comply with article 35.2 of the 2009 F1 sporting regulations,” said the report from the FIA, prior to the Valencia race.

Renault managed to save the day, however, as it immediately met with the FIA officials soon after they received the warning. Apparently, after a series of discussions between the representatives of the two organizations, including the two drivers in question, the Valencia stewards decided that “exceptionally, the incident requires no further action.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that 2-time world champion Fernando Alonso traveled with his wife to his home town Oviedo to attend the funerals of his grandmother. Maria Luisa Martinez Lopez died at the age of 78 after a long illness and was buried at the San Lazaro church in Oviedo.