Alonso beat Perez in exciting duel: 'It felt like thirty laps'
F1 News
Fernando Alonso fought an incredible duel with Sergio Perez in the closing stages of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. For a moment Perez seemed to claim the last podium spot, but on the last lap Alonso saw his chance and took back third place.
Alonso heroically claims P3
For a long time, Alonso managed to fend off the Red Bull Racing driver's attacks, but with just over a lap to go, Perez was past them. The 42-year-old Spaniard was almost at peace with that, yet he saw another chance on the last lap and he heroically took back third place.
"For me it was like 30 laps when I had the pressure from Checo!" Alonso laughed after the race. "When he passed me two laps to the end, I thought 'okay, this is gone, the podium is not possible anymore'. But he braked a little bit late into [Turn 1] and I thought 'okay, I go for it' into [Turn] 4!'"
"This is phenomenal result for the team. We have been struggling for a couple of months, especially the last two events with two retirements. So this podium is for them and the whole factory. We keep fighting until the last lap," said the Aston Martin driver.