Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Pérez triumphs and Alonso on the podium in the tumult

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 full gamut of emotions to clinch his 100^e career podium.

Pérez managed to defend the lead position for the first time in his career and triumphed more than five seconds ahead of his closest pursuer, teammate Max Verstappen.

But 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 imposed on him a few tens of minutes after the race and relegated the 41-year-old Spaniard to the foot 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. He particularly skinned the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after the race.

After the race, Alonso savored the moment. While he threw flowers to his team and the car during a post-race interview, team mechanics chanted his name to the tune of Seven Nation Army.

“The team has created a superb car. She also managed the race to perfection, which allowed us to obtain 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.

Spectacular turn of events

The 41-year-old double world champion started the race in 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 – slightly shifted to the left – on the starting grid earned him a five-second penalty to be retaken during a pit stop. The dispute arose when he was serving the said penalty. The FIA ​​initially believed that a mechanic had 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 classification was the correct one; 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 did not obtain the expected results.

Despite an encouraging start, Quebecer Lance Stroll saw his race turn sour. He momentarily took the 4^e rank, but a miscalculated pit stop allowed the two Ferraris to top it. Then at 16^e lap, over the team radio, Stroll was ordered 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 rung.

Among other results, Lewis Hamilton took 5^e place behind his Mercedes teammate. The Scuderia followed with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the 6^e and 7^e ranks respectively.

An internal struggle at Red Bull

Despite a second victory in two races for the Red Bull team, the Mexican’s coronation was not the only story among the defending champions. Whoever experienced a fifth Formula 1 triumph held the fastest lap until the very end. Literally.

Verstappen showed patience and shrugged off his 15^e starting position to finish second. The Dutchman slowly attacked each opponent – ​​thanks in particular to the safety car exit which followed Stroll’s retirement – ​​before taking a comfortable lead over Alonso. On the last lap, he decided to step on the accelerator. Sound 50^e 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.

“At some point we decided not to go for first place, but to settle for second place,” admitted Verstappen. Which isn’t so bad under the conditions. […] I tried to do more [pour obtenir le tour le plus rapide]. In the end, it worked. »

The two cars from the Austrian team took the first 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 it’s the best who will be in front,” he said.

With information from Agence France-Presse