Alonso fumes after Rosberg escapes punishment

MANAMA, April 22, 2012 (AFP) - Nico Rosberg escaped punishment on Sunday despite appearing to force two rival drivers off the circuit during the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old German, in his Mercedes, forced both Lewis Hamilton of McLaren and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari to leave the track to avoid a collision in separate incidents during the race.

Defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel dominated to claim his first win of the year for the Red Bull team.

The race stewards met Rosberg, Hamilton and Alonso, and their team representatives, after the race, to investigate the two incidents.

The stewards decided that because Rosberg had moved to the right to defend his position in a "constant and continuous straight line manner" and because Hamilton was not alongside Rosberg when he started his move the German did nothing wrong.

Alonso, notably, was amazed at the incidents and the decision.

"I can only say that if, instead of such a wide run-off area, there had been a wall, I'm not sure I'd be here now to talk about it," he said.

After hearing the decision, Alonso wrote on Twitter: "I think you are going to have fun in future races. You can defend position as you want and you can overtake outside the track! Enjoy!"