GP of Saudi Arabia | Punished, Alonso (Aston Martin) loses his 3rd place, Russell (Mercedes) climbs onto the podium

The cold shower. Fernando Alonso had time to enjoy his third place on the podium in Jeddah on Sunday before being stripped of it. Qualifying second, first leader after a better start than pole man Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), the 41-year-old Spaniard was brilliant for the 50 laps and could do nothing against superior Red Bulls.

Sadly, the two-time world champion was stripped of his 100th career podium due to a pit violation while serving a penalty. Positioned too far to the left of his position on the starting area, the two-time world champion was warned on lap three that he had been penalized a five-second stoppage to be observed during his pit stop.

Returning on lap 18, the pilot of AMR23 n°14 saw his “pit crew” standing still around him for the required five seconds, except for the rear gear lever attendant, who grabbed the jack at the rear of the car. At the end of the race, Aston Martin called him to tell him to keep a five-second margin over his next, George Russell (Mercedes). But this was his second offense and it could not be of the same nature.

Minutes after the finish, the FIA ​​stewards dropped the 10-second penalty, just what Esteban Ocon (Alpine) had received for a similar sprain at the Bahrain Grand Prix. In Sakhir, The Blues had touched the Frenchman’s single-seater after 4.6 seconds.

It was therefore George Russell (Mercedes) who inherited third place with a delay. “I’m happy to recapture this podium, but Fernando deserved it today”admitted the Englishman.