the GP of Saudi Arabia It was the second race of the championship. Alonso started in the front row and the Monegasque driver Leclerc had to come back from 12th place and Max Verstappen to try to reach the podium places to continue being at the top of the world.
A controversial sanction
A very entertaining finish for the Red Bull drivers who had to battle each other to share the race. Finally, the Mexican pilot Checo Perez he was able to win his fifth race as a professional. A milestone within his record that places him second in the world championship, just one point behind Verstappen. The Dutch driver was able to score an extra point with the fastest lap, totaling 44 points.
Fernando Alonso it reached more than fifteen seconds in third place. As soon as he received his prize and celebrated with his staff, he received unexpected news. A claim from Mercedes implied a new review by the FIA. The sanction contained in article 48c of the F1 Sporting Code imposes a 10-second penalty for touching the front line of the starting area with the front tires. Once the 5-second penalty was completed, a new race began.
After receiving the award, he was notified of an irregularity with a mechanic’s jack that was touching the rear wing. Own Fernando in a press conference stated that “the FIA has not been very good”. With 35 laps remaining he had no notice of it.
The decision was made and Alonso was relegated from third place with the celebration of the English pilot Russell who added his first podium in the present season.
The English team dissatisfied with the decision, accepts article 14.1.1 which indicates that a new review must be carried out to certify the sanction. The FIA itself rectifies at 23:03 Spanish time to indicate that there is no record that the touch of the jack on the rear wing constitutes an aid to the AMR 23.
After 25 minutes to warn about a penalty and the seven similar cases exposed to ratify Fernando’s position were key Also in the decision.
The statement was as follows:
“Having reviewed the video evidence submitted and having listened to the representative of the Aston Martin and the relevant members of the FIA, the stewards determined that significant and relevant new evidence did exist as required by Article 14.1.1 to trigger a review of the decision.”
Alonso reaches podium number 100
A new milestone in his career as a professional. It has been a long race that he has managed to finish in a consolidated third place. The Asturian pilot joins an exclusive list of pilots who reach three figures. In it is found; Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Kimi Raikonnen, Lewis Hamilton y Sebastian Vettel.
The 33 continues to be present in the dream of the team and of the fans who continue to increase their excitement and interest with the second consecutive podium of the pilot of Aston Martin. The negative part came from his teammate Stroll who had to leave due to a brake problem.
His first podium came at the Malaysian GP in 2003, in which he took pole position and finished in 3rd position. They have been in a single-seater for more than 20 years and their current contract expires in 2024.