FormulaSpy Logo
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos
  • Formula E
F1 Shop
F1 Shop
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos
  • Formula E
F1 Shop
F1 Shop
No Result
View All Result
FormulaSpy Logo Mobile
No Result
View All Result

Alonso: first F1 podium for 7 years “unbelievable”

Doha, Qatar

Emer Hedderman by Emer Hedderman
21st November 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Formula 1

Formula 1

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail

Qatar Grand Prix – Fernando Alonso made a welcome return to the podium today after making his tyres last on a one-stop strategy to finish P3.

RELATED POSTS

Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium

Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

Gasly penalised for impeding and Russell warned for Hamilton clash

After putting in his best qualifying performance of the season, a P5, yesterday, Alonso lined up for today’s Grand Prix in P3 thanks to penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. While he wasn’t able to achieve his aim of leading after the start he had got past Pierre Gasly and was able to enjoy P2 until Verstappen got through a few laps later.

The Spaniard’s return to the podium was helped by Alpine’s bold one-stop strategy not literally blowing up on him as it did for Valtteri Bottas and both Williams drivers, and a late Virtual Safety Car to clear Nicholas Latifi’s stricken car stopped Sergio Perez’ charge back to the podium.

Hamilton takes dominant Qatar GP win as tyre blowouts cause late drama

“Unbelievable,” Alonso said afterwards. “Seven years, but finally we got it. We were close a couple of races but not enough. Sochi was the last possibility. Honestly I thought to be leading after lap one. With the red tyre I thought I could have a go and risk, but I couldn’t.”

Alpine had headed into the race with a one-stop planned and despite seeing four punctures from worn tyres, persisted with the strategy rather than pitting again and relinquishing their hold on the final podium spot.

“It seems that our car is kind on tyres. We did one-stop also in Brazil last week and today I think we had some margin to keep pushing a little bit more, but you never know.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We planned one stop from the beginning but we never knew how bad was the wear and the degradation. It’s a new race for everybody. But I think it was quite well executed, the race. The pit stop was fantastic. The team was great. The reliability of the car was superb and they deserve it.

“With Checo it was very close at the end. But so happy for the team. Also, Esteban P5. A good Sunday.”

As Alonso did his part in holding rivals back to help Esteban Ocon secure his and Alpine’s first win back in Hungary, the Frenchman did his best to hold off a fresher-tyred Perez and that, coupled with the Virtual Safety Car, was enough to seal Alpine’s second podium of the year.

“It’s like a win for us,” said Ocon. “I’m so glad to see Fernando on the podium. He has driven to the ultimate excellence as he always does. I also tried to give back a little bit what Fernando gave me from Budapest, I slowed down a good 2.5, 3 seconds Sergio in that lap, so I was hoping that was going to be enough and it was.”

Despite being unsure of whether Alpine can continue to perform well at the final two tracks, Alonso was unsurprisingly looking on the bright side after such his unexpected success in Qatar.

“It’s going to depend on the track layout and the characteristics of the track,” Alonso concluded. “Saudi, what we see on the videos, it could match our package; Abu Dhabi maybe a little bit less, even though the new corners may change a little bit what we feel there. I don’t know, I feel positive. I feel that what I saw this weekend on the car made me quite optimistic for the next two.

“But we cannot relax. Anything can happen on the next two events, and we need to keep the focus high and hopefully deliver more points for the Championship.”

This team, this triple, this year. Team work is 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. #QatarGP @alo_oficial @OconEsteban @alpinecars pic.twitter.com/pfssEdXYt7

— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 21, 2021

Tags: AlpineEsteban OconFernando AlonsoFormula 1Losail International CircuitQatar Grand Prix
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Horner given official warning over ‘rogue marshal’ comments

Next Post

Nissan e.dams unveil new livery

Emer Hedderman

Emer Hedderman

After being in the right place at the right time, Emer attended Formula E pre-season 1 testing. She has become steadily more entwined with the series adding Fan Site operator and journalist to her initial fan status.

Related Posts

Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium
F1 News

Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium

4th June 2023
Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
F1 News

Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

4th June 2023
Gasly penalised for impeding and Russell warned for Hamilton clash
F1 News

Gasly penalised for impeding and Russell warned for Hamilton clash

4th June 2023
Verstappen takes pole in exciting Spanish qualifying
F1 News

Verstappen takes pole in exciting Spanish qualifying

3rd June 2023
Qualifying Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
F1 News

Qualifying Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

3rd June 2023
Verstappen quickest in mixed FP3 conditions
F1 News

Verstappen quickest in mixed FP3 conditions

3rd June 2023
Next Post
Nissan e.dams unveil new livery

Nissan e.dams unveil new livery

Oliver Askew joins Jake Dennis at Andretti

Oliver Askew joins Jake Dennis at Andretti

Latest News

Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium

Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium

4th June 2023
Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

4th June 2023
Guenther breaks the curse to win from pole in a Gen3

Guenther breaks the curse to win from pole in a Gen3

4th June 2023
(FP3) Third Practice Result – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix

Race Results – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix 2

4th June 2023
Gasly penalised for impeding and Russell warned for Hamilton clash

Gasly penalised for impeding and Russell warned for Hamilton clash

4th June 2023
Guenther does it again to take second Jakarta pole

Guenther does it again to take second Jakarta pole

4th June 2023
Qualifying Results – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix 2

Qualifying Results – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix 2

4th June 2023
(FP3) Third Practice Result – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix

(FP3) Third Practice Result – 2023 Jakarta E-Prix

4th June 2023
Verstappen takes pole in exciting Spanish qualifying

Verstappen takes pole in exciting Spanish qualifying

3rd June 2023
Qualifying Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

Qualifying Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

3rd June 2023

Recommended Stories

F1 Formula 1 Hamilton Bottas Ricciardo British Grand Prix anniversary gp

Hamilton leads in second practice; big problems for Vettel

7th August 2020
Season 8 preview

Season 8 preview

26th January 2022
Sauber Alfa Romeo Ferrari

Reports: FIAT Group given option to buy-out Sauber F1

5th February 2019

Popular Stories

  • F1 Formula 1 Haas 2021 livery Uralkali

    WADA confirm interest in Haas’ 2021 livery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2022 F1 calendar and pre-season testing dates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Perez’s manager working on finding alternative seat for 2021’

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Analysis: Where has Ferrari’s speed gone?

    14 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 0
  • Updated – 2020 F1 Drivers, Teams and Driver Numbers

    40 shares
    Share 40 Tweet 0
FormulaSpy

Find the latest Formula 1 news, results & reactions!

FormulaSpy is an independent accredited F1 news site, based in Ireland.

LEARN MORE »

Recent Posts

  • Verstappen dominates in Spain as Mercedes get double podium 4th June 2023
  • Race Results – 2023 Spanish Grand Prix 4th June 2023
  • Guenther breaks the curse to win from pole in a Gen3 4th June 2023

Follow us on Social Media

Follow FormulaSpy on your favourite social media channels!

Built with ❤ in Dublin, Ireland ☘ © 2023
The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • F1 News
  • F1 Calendar
  • F1 Standings
  • Drivers
  • Teams
  • Videos

Built with ❤ in Dublin, Ireland ☘ © 2023
The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In