Alonso's 'unreal' feat not seen since Schumacher

1 year ago 70

While Max Verstappen dominated the Bahrain Grand Prix, it was Fernando Alonso's 3rd spot that seems to person triggered the biggest excitement among fans.

On the opening lap, Alonso fell down the 2 Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell aft helium he was deed by teammate Lance Stroll astatine crook four.

Somehow Alonso's Aston Martin was undamaged. Through clever strategy and the status of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, helium fought backmost - overtaking Russell, Hamilton and past the different Ferrari of Carlos Sainz to assertion a fashionable 3rd down the 2 Red Bulls.

Alonso won successful Bahrain for Ferrari successful 2010.

Now, helium is the oldest to basal connected an F1 podium since Michael Schumacher astatine the 2011 European Grand Prix successful Valencia - which Alonso besides won.

"What person you done guys? What person you done?" a jubilant Alonso radioed his squad arsenic helium crossed the enactment successful Bahrain. "I'm truthful proud."

Alonso, who joined aft an acrimonious divided with Alpine, pumped his fist astatine the decorativeness enactment and past hugged his contention crew.

"To decorativeness connected the podium archetypal contention of the twelvemonth is conscionable amazing," Alonso said. "What Aston Martin did implicit the wintertime to person the 2nd champion car connected contention 1 is conscionable unreal."

The Spaniard said helium felt Aston Martin had a warring accidental aft pre-season testing, and helium was beardown each play successful Bahrain successful spectacular debut with his caller organization.

"I had the aforesaid feeling from investigating — it's excessively bully to beryllium true," Alonso said. "But it seems real. I could person driven for different hr connected the track."

Alonso has present kicked disconnected "Mission 33", the catchphrase his fans created arsenic helium chases a 33rd vocation F1 victory. The 41-year-old is simply a two-time satellite champion but past won a expansive prix 10 years ago.

"I would accidental yes, erstwhile you are P3 successful contention one, thing tin hap successful 22 races," Alonso said of his chances astatine winning a contention this year.

Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll missed pre-season investigating due to the fact that of an wounded suffered successful a bicycle accident. He needed country connected his close wrist and wasn't adjacent confirmed capable to thrust until Thursday.

He finished sixth.

"Congrats to my teammate Lance; 12 days agone helium had surgery," Alonso said. "He is warring close up with everybody. So astonishing for the team."

Alonso was a menace for Ferrari and Mercedes, who some made tyre stops to ward disconnected immoderate challenges from Alonso. That helped Stroll, who utilized the undercut perfectly to overtake Russell conscionable arsenic helium was emerging pursuing a 2nd tyre change.

Alonso passed Hamilton connected thigh 37 but past slid wide arsenic Hamilton reclaimed position. Alonso had different spell connected the adjacent lap, and passed him by attacking connected the extracurricular and past rapidly diving wrong astatine crook 10.

It could beryllium 1 of galore specified moves successful a play wherever Alonso has a car to lucifer his talents.

"This is conscionable the beginning," Alonso said.

- With Damien McCartney

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