Spanish driver Fernando Alonso returns to the front of a grand prix after almost ten years, taking an early lead at the start of the season. The Asturian rider his place ahead of Checo Perez at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the move drew a five second penalty from Formula 1 officials during a pit stop.
FERNANDO ALONSO’S SANCTION WAS APPROVED
He lost a podium spot and finished fourth after a touch in the pit lane. This message comes from DAZN Spain about the incident in Jeddah during the 2023 race season.
But hours later the International Automobile Federation corrected the ruling and restored Alonso to the podium. The FIA addressed the claim filed by Alonso may team as part of their review process.
At that stop, Aston Martin faced a similar issue when a mechanic touched the rear of the car and received a second penalty after the race, adding ten seconds. This forced Alonso to briefly drop from the top three, though the penalty would later be reversed, granting Alonso a third place ahead of George Russell and his Mercedes.
Alonso displaced at the Arabian GP
From the start, Alonso began from a slightly off-center position. The adjustment did not create an advantage, but it influenced the approach to the attack. Soon Checo Perez outpaced the two-time World Champion at the Jeddah circuit. Perez’s plan was to match Red Bull and exploit DRS until its effect faded.
This is how Alonso lined up on the start line.
He faced a five second sanction tied to race direction decisions.
What do you think about the outcome?
— DAZN Spain was live with updates from the event.
Alonso had not led a race lasting more than two laps since 2014, his final year with Ferrari. The Spaniard showed an upward trajectory on a track where Aston Martin had not previously scored points among the field. Yet Perez’s top speed in Red Bull proved stronger, and the car maintained sharp performance in the corners.
A mechanic’s jack led to a later withdrawal from Alonso
Alonso demonstrated tenacity at the season’s start, earning a front-row berth thanks to a strong lineup on a rapid circuit that did not particularly favor Aston Martin. Verstappen’s exit from contention briefly altered the race dynamics. In round nineteen, Alonso was penalized five seconds, and the team initially appeared to comply but later faced renewed scrutiny as similar penalties were reviewed after Bahrain. Esteban Ocon also made a mistake, forcing another stop and prompting questions about the penalty timing.
Aston Martin flagged concerns about the timing of the penalty as doubts grew about its correctness during the race. The team urged Alonso to increase the gap to his pursuers beyond five seconds. Despite missteps, Alonso showed greater skill than his rivals, benefiting from the safety car period after Lance Stroll’s retirement. Ferrari drivers including Carlos Sainz were among those most affected by the evolving situation.
Alonso temporarily slipped from the podium after the finish
Hard tires were chosen for the final phases, a decision Alonso later described as favorable for pace. After the restart, Verstappen launched a strong challenge to Perez, reaffirming the dominance of the Red Bulls. The two leaders appeared to be in a different league, testing the limits of the rest of the field.
Lap thirty-seven saw Verstappen report a strange bearing issue while Alonso pushed hard to stay in contention. Perez also voiced concerns about brake performance, but engineers steadied the situation. Alonso kept racing with determination and posted competitive times, finishing the event in third. He acknowledged the difficulty of the day, praising his team for their energy and support, and noting that the pace of the Red Bulls remained ahead while the rest trailed. This finish extended Alonso’s strong form but did not secure another podium in successive races.
Aston Martin criticizes FIA for the late penalty on Alonso
Team officials voiced their disagreement with the decision, emphasizing the time available to review and decide. They argued the penalty should have been determined sooner and contested its timing. The FIA ultimately did not allow an appeal on that decision at the time.
In commentary after the event, Alonso reflected that if the penalty had been known live, he would have tried to increase his pace to compensate. He explained that once told of the five-second margin, he attempted to push harder, hoping to extend the gap. He concluded with a smile that the situation offered lessons for future races, while acknowledging the Red Bulls remained ahead as the rest chased for position.