F1 Saudi Arabian GP: Fernando Alonso robbed off a historic podium after an incorrectly served penalty
Fernando Alonso denied historic 100th podium for incorrectly serving a penalty at F1 Saudi Arabian GP
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Fernando Alonso in Aston Martin (Credits: Grand Prix 247)
Fernando Alonso was on the brink of securing a remarkable milestone in his illustrious racing career at Jeddah. His eyes were set on his 100th podium finish, a feat accomplished by only five drivers in the sport’s rich history. However, the dream was shattered by a penalty that was served incorrectly during his pit stop, which demoted him to fourth place behind Geroge Russell
The Spaniard was initially awarded a five-second penalty due to a starting procedure infringement, having parked his car slightly to the left of the marked line. But the penalty drama did not end there, and it only got worse for Alonso. The ten-second penalty was issued to Alonso as his pit crew began working on his car before serving the five-second penalty, which led to him being relegated to fourth place, ending his hopes of achieving the historic milestone.
When asked about his initial penalty, he said “Yeah I need to review, obviously I made the mistake. When they told me the five-seconds penalty, I said I need to drive a little bit faster to make those five seconds but uh, I need to review.”
Alonso’s performance during the race was nothing short of exemplary. He had a magnificent start from the front row and showcased his class by grabbing the lead from the pole-sitter Sergio Perez. This was the first time in over nine years that he led an opening lap of a race, a testament to his enduring skill and determination.
A valiant effort by Fernando Alonso no matter what
Despite losing the lead to Perez due to the pace difference, Alonso held off the Mexican driver for an extended period and managed to maintain his position in second place for a significant part of the race. However, Max Verstappen, the championship leader, started his charge and sliced his way through the field to snatch second place from Alonso’s grasp.
But Alonso didn’t give up and continued to demonstrate his mettle throughout the race. He was the only driver who posed a real challenge to the Red Bulls and even with the 5-second penalty, Alonso remained comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack. He capitalised on a safety car that emerged following his teammate’s retirement, which helped him to maintain his position on the grid.
However, his heroic efforts were thwarted when he was penalised again, this time for an incorrectly served penalty during his pit stop. The penalty dropped him ten seconds behind, pushing him down to fourth place, behind the Mercedes of George Russell who will now be awarded the podium trophy. To make matters worse, he had already celebrated on the podium before the penalty was announced, only to be told that he had dropped to fourth place.
The disappointment was palpable, but Alonso’s fans can take heart from the fact that he showed he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level of the sport. Alonso’s historic podium finish was snatched away from him due to the penalty, robbing him of a chance to add to his already impressive record. His time will come soon for the century of podiums.
Alonso’s impressive performance at Jeddah has propelled him to third place in the drivers’ championship, behind only the Red Bull duo of Verstappen and Perez. With just one point separating the two Red Bull teammates, the season promises to be an exciting battle for the championship. Meanwhile, Alonso and his Aston Martin team will look to challenge the Red Bull dominance and close the gap on the leaders in the upcoming races.
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Varad Joshi
(940 Articles Published)