Sao Paulo GP: Fernando Alonso relives thrilling last-lap Sergio Perez duel for last podium place

Fernando Alonso has admitted he thought a Sao Paulo Grand Prix podium “was gone” earlier than reclaiming third place from Sergio Perez on the ultimate lap of the race to conclude an exhilarating battle between the pair.

Having spent nearly all of the race chasing Alonso, Perez lastly handed the Aston Martin on the penultimate lap of the race with a transfer into the primary nook that appeared to have sealed a double podium for Pink Bull, with world champion Max Verstappen easing to victory.

Nonetheless, a small error from Perez gave Alonso the chance to retake the ultimate podium spot within the second DRS zone on the run to Flip 4 on their last tour, earlier than the Spaniard held on to the place by simply 0.053s on a cost to the end line.

Alonso defined to Sky Sports activities F1 that he thought he had blown his likelihood of responding by operating off line on the penultimate lap as he tried to hit again having been handed.

“Truthfully, I assumed that possibly my probabilities had been gone in Flip Six,” he mentioned.

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Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso loved an epic battle within the last levels of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“I went on the surface to alter line however then I picked up quite a lot of marbles and the tyres had been soiled, they had been vibrating as nicely and I assumed, ‘okay, that is gone’.

“However then I wished to have yet one more likelihood into Flip One or Flip 4 with the DRS, possibly braking very aggressive, very late.

“I believe he understood that as nicely, so he broke late into Flip One, missed the apex by one metre and that gave me the run into Flip 4.

“Surprising, to be trustworthy, once I misplaced the place I assumed it was gone.”

Perez: Different drivers can be taught from our battle

Perez, who crashed out of final weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix and final month’s Qatar Grand Prix Dash following collisions, mentioned that different drivers may be taught from the way in which he and Alonso had fought for place.

“It was fairly an intense battle,” Perez informed Sky Sports activities F1. “We tried the whole lot.

“Sadly we did not succeed on that, however it was nicely deserved for Fernando.

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The most effective of the motion from a dramatic Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“I believe we had an incredible struggle, particularly reasonable and to the restrict. I believe that is one thing that quite a lot of drivers can be taught from as a result of what we did, the way in which we fought immediately, it is the way it needs to be completed.

“I am within the improper aspect, I find yourself dropping however it’s tremendous as a result of it was an incredible struggle.”

Alonso agreed that it had been a “clear” contest, and admitted he was shocked to search out Perez had matched his tyre-saving skill going into the ultimate levels.

“It was good, it was a clear battle,” Alonso mentioned. “A really aggressive, however clear battle. All the time with Checo I believe he has an excellent document on ending the races and at all times battling arduous however holding each vehicles on monitor.

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Fernando Alonso overtakes Lewis Hamilton to maneuver into third place on the restart of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“I knew that he was coming, I knew that he was a menace, and on the finish it was possibly tougher than I assumed, to be trustworthy.

“5 laps to the top, I assumed that I had issues underneath management, so I begin pushing after which I look within the mirror and Checo was there, and I mentioned ‘uh oh, I believe he was saving tyres as nicely’.”

Perez: Matter of time earlier than podium | Alonso completely happy for ‘united’ Aston Martin

Perez got here into the weekend underneath main strain amid continued hypothesis that Pink Bull may look to interchange him subsequent season, regardless of a yr nonetheless remaining on his contract.

Whereas his run of races with out a podium extends to 6, a strong show in coming from a beginning place of ninth to complete fourth was an enchancment on lots of his current efforts.

“We have seen within the final couple of races that the tempo has been there, that we have been actually robust,” he added.

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Ted Kravitz talks to an elated Fernando Alonso after his dramatic podium end on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“For some cause or one other we’ve not been in a position to get the ultimate finish consequence, however I simply know that it is a matter of time.”

Alonso’s podium places an finish to a dismal run of kind from Aston Martin, with the Spaniard having retired from the earlier two races after qualifying exterior the highest 10 on each events.

After a shocking begin to the season which noticed them surprisingly emerge as Pink Bull’s closest challengers, the Silverstone-based group have did not sustain with the event of the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.

Nonetheless, after selecting to not go along with a few of the upgraded elements which have failed to offer enchancment, they returned to prominence in Brazil, with Alonso’s team-mate Lance Stroll ending fifth.

“Ultimately I am completely happy that we did it for the group,” Alonso mentioned.

“We’re struggling rather a lot within the final two races however we by no means misplaced give attention to what had been the targets, we went deep within the evaluation, we stayed united, we stayed collectively and this was a really good factor to witness within the final two occasions.”

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