Aston Martin driver Alonso placed on a masterclass in Sao Paulo by keeping off Perez’s faster Purple Bull, and whereas the Mexican was in a position to go him on the penultimate lap, Alonso struck again on the ultimate tour by establishing an overtake into Flip 4.
In a drag race to the end, Perez ran out of highway to overhaul the Spaniard, the distinction being 0.053s on the line.
Alonso’s profitable combat towards a faster automotive drew some parallels to his 2005 San Marino Grand Prix efficiency, through which he was hounded by Ferrari’s Schumacher round Imola for the final 12 laps however managed to hold on for a memorable win.
When requested how the 2 races examine, Alonso really felt his San Marino win was extra simple as a result of on the time there was no DRS on the slim and twisty Imola circuit.
“It was simpler in 2005 as a result of it was non-DRS,” Alonso mentioned. “Now with the DRS, it appears a bit of bit totally different and you must play issues a bit of bit in a different way as properly.
“And tyre administration was additionally very totally different again then, the place you’ll be able to possibly push the tyre all the best way.”
The DRS overtaking assist then returned the favour to Alonso on the ultimate lap as he punished a late braking manoeuvre from Perez in Flip 1, which arrange a slingshot on the again straight.
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR23, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB19
“Yeah, true,” he replied when requested if DRS got here again to assist him. “If in 2005 you lose the place, then it is bye-bye, you can’t get well and right here I had one other likelihood.
“It has been launched to supply a bit of bit higher present and [this] is an efficient instance of that, since you get overtaken two laps from the top after which you’ve one other likelihood, particularly right here in Brazil.”
Alonso praised Interlagos’ monitor design for enabling drivers to combat one another arduous, because the downhill Senna S that covers the primary three turns permits drivers to take totally different strains and sacrifice their place in Flip 1 to then get a greater likelihood at passing into Flip 4, which follows a DRS straight.
“When there may be an overtaking completed into Flip 1, there’s a sturdy risk that into Flip 4 somebody will get the place again,” the two-time world champion defined.
“That is why we see some very good battles in races all the time in Interlagos. It has been a spectacular weekend, as all the time right here in Brazil.
“Typically it is the climate offering this nice present and I believe this weekend with none rain or any climate we noticed unimaginable races.
“So, there’s something on this monitor that all the time offers an ideal alternative for Method 1 to shine.”