If Sergio Pérez and the Red Bulls were not in danger during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso saw his team and his strategy scuttle him.
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. Third place on the podium went to Alonso if the latter had been able to avoid not one, but two penalties.
While the team mechanics might be heard chanting his name to the tune of Seven Nation Army, Alonso threw flowers to his team and the car during a post-race interview. He then took to the podium to celebrate what he believed to be his 100e stage and career.
“The team has created a superb car. She also managed the race to perfection, which allowed us to obtain a second podium in as many races,” said Alonso before learning that the team had cost him third place.
The 41-year-old 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 on the starting grid earned him a five-second penalty to retake during the pit stop. And when he made his stop, his team touched the car before the end of the five-second penalty, which led to a second penalty, this time of 10 seconds.
The Spaniard’s second penalty allowed Mercedes’ George Russell to take third place and complete the podium.
“I don’t mind too honestly [d’avoir célébré ce qui est devenu une 4e place], Alonso told British network Sky Sports. I think it’s rather the FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) that looked bad today.
A penalty cannot be applied 35 laps following the pit stop. They had enough time to find out regarding the penalty. If I had known, I might have gained 11 seconds on the car behind mine. I think today we didn’t put on a good show for our supporters.
Fernando Alonso
That wasn’t the only bad news of the day for Aston Martin, which is trying to compete with Ferrari – and potentially Mercedes – for the title of second constructor.
Despite an encouraging start for Lance Stroll, the Quebecer saw his race quickly turn sour. He momentarily took the 4e rank, but a miscalculated pit stop allowed the two Ferrari cars to top it. Then at 16e lap, over the team radio, Stroll was ordered to “stop the car, stop the car immediately”.
At the latest news, it would be his operating system that failed.
Among other results, Lewis Hamilton took 5e place. The Scuderia followed, respectively, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the 6e et 7e ranks.
An internal struggle at Red Bulls
Despite a second victory in as many races for the Red Bull team, the Mexican’s coronation was not the only story among the defending champions. The one who experienced a fifth triumph in Formula 1, held the fastest lap until the very end. Literally.
Verstappen showed patience and shrugged off his 15e 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 50e 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 following 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.
Verstappen struggled with the car the day before and also had to deal with some technical glitches late in the race. It didn’t put him off the idea of going for the fastest lap.
“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
