While Sergio Pérez and the Red Bulls were unfazed at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso went through the gamut of emotions to clinch his 100th career podium.
Pérez managed to defend the top position for the first time in his career and triumphed more than five seconds ahead of his closest pursuer, teammate Max Verstappen. Unlike the first two places, the third was contested.
Alonso finished the race in third place despite a penalty, more than five seconds ahead of George Russell. However, a second penalty was awarded to him a few dozen minutes after the race and relegated the 41-year-old Spaniard to the bottom of the podium.
But this second sanction was only effective for three hours. Meanwhile, Alonso believed he had celebrated his historic plateau of podiums in vain. In particular, he scolded the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after the race: “We cannot apply a penalty 35 laps after the pit stop. […] I think today we didn’t put on a good show for our fans,” he told Britain’s Sky Sports network.
“The team has created a great car. She also managed the race to perfection, which allowed us to get a second podium in two races,” said Alonso before experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. Ultimately, he’ll be happy to bank three more points.
The 41-year-old double world champion started the race from second place on the starting grid and set the tone for the race with a bold strategy. An approach that allowed him to take first place from the start.
However, his illegal position – shifted slightly to the left – on the starting grid earned him a five-second penalty to retake during a pit stop. The dispute arose when he was serving the said penalty. The FIA initially believed a mechanic touched the car before the end of the five-second penalty, which led to a second penalty, this time of ten seconds.
The Spaniard’s second penalty temporarily allowed Mercedes’ Russell to take third place and complete the podium. But the original ranking was correct; the Briton finished in fourth place.
The leaders of Aston Martin will be able to breathe easier with the new verdict in Alonso’s case, because their other car has not obtained the expected results.
Despite an encouraging start, Quebecer Lance Stroll saw his race turn sour. He momentarily took 4th place, but a miscalculated pit stop allowed the two Ferraris to edge him. Then on lap 16, over the team radio, Stroll was instructed to “stop the car, stop the car immediately”.
At the latest news, it is his operating system that would have failed. Aston Martin, which is trying to compete with Ferrari – and potentially Mercedes – for the title of second constructor is still clinging to the second echelon.
Among other results, Lewis Hamilton took 5th place behind his Mercedes team-mate. The Scuderia followed with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in 6th and 7th respectively.
Despite a second victory in two races for the Red Bull team, the Mexican’s coronation was not the only story for the defending champions. Whoever experienced a fifth Formula 1 triumph held the fastest lap until the very end. Literally.
Verstappen showed patience and shook off his 15th starting position to finish second. The Dutchman slowly attacked each opponent – not least thanks to the exit of the safety car which followed Stroll’s retirement – before taking a comfortable lead over Alonso. On the last lap, he decided to step on the accelerator. His 50th and last lap was the right one and he thus took a point from his teammate for the drivers’ classification.
The defending champion therefore passed Pérez by one point in the cumulative after two races. A good player, the Mexican did not seem irritated by Verstappen’s maneuver.
“The important thing is that we were the fastest car. I’m proud of us,” he said.
“At some point we decided not to go for first place, but to settle for second place,” admitted Verstappen. Which is not so bad under the conditions. […] I tried to do more [to get the fastest lap]. In the end, it worked. »
The two cars from the Austrian team took the top two positions in the first two rounds of the campaign. If this is “good news” according to Pérez, Verstappen is ready to engage in a fight with his partner. “We are allowed to compete, so the best will be in front,” he said.
