Sergio Perez suggests that his fellow drivers on the grid can benefit from observing and learning from Fernando Alonso following their thrilling and sportsmanlike encounter at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez applauded Fernando Alonso’s skillful defence at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which culminated in a thrilling photo finish for third place. Despite Perez’s valiant effort from ninth on the grid, Alonso secured the final podium spot.
Key Takeaways:
* Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso engaged in a fierce battle for third place during the closing laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Alonso narrowly securing the podium position.
* Starting from ninth, Perez delivered an impressive performance, cutting through the pack to challenge Alonso, but the Aston Martin driver’s defensive prowess held firm against the faster Red Bull.
* Perez expressed admiration for the hard-fought duel and mentioned the significance of having a clean fight that sets an example for other drivers.
As the dust settled on the Brazilian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez tipped his hat to Fernando Alonso’s mastery that led to a photo finish for third. Perez, who had clawed his way up from ninth, encountered an “Aston Martin-shaped roadblock” in Alonso, whose defensive skillset was on full display, frustrating the Red Bull driver’s every move.
Despite having a “far superior car,” Perez couldn’t quite outmatch Alonso, who ticked off lap after lap, creating a buffer against the faster challenger. The penultimate lap saw Perez slip past the Spaniard, only for Alonso to reclaim the position on the straight with a decisive DRS-assisted move.
Perez had one final card to play on the sprint to the finish line, reminiscent of Hamilton’s attempt on Gasly in 2019, yet it was Alonso who triumphed, claiming his eighth podium of the season.
Reflecting on the intense duel, Perez shared with the media:
“It was quite an intense battle. We tried everything, unfortunately we didn’t succeed on that. But it was well deserved for Fernando.
“I think we had a great fight, very fair and to the limit. I think this is something that a lot of drivers can learn from.
“What we did, the way we fought today, it’s how it should be done. I’m on the wrong side, I ended up losing but it’s fine because it was a great fight.”
Despite the setback, Perez remained optimistic about his future races, alluding to his recent strong pace and considering a podium finish to be just a matter of time.
