CNN
—
Fernando Alonso received the 100th podium of his Formula One career on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, however the outcome was solely confirmed hours after the top of the race when officers reversed a 10-second penalty.
The Spaniard was initially handed a five-second penalty for lining up outdoors his grid slot on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and, whereas serving that penalty throughout a pit cease, stewards dominated {that a} jack had touched the rear of his automobile.
That meant the penalty had not been served accurately and Alonso was given an extra 10-second sanction, selling Mercedes driver George Russell to 3rd place on the finish of the race.
But after Alonso’s Aston Martin workforce submitted a letter to evaluation the choice, the FIA, motorsport’s world governing physique, dominated that there was “no clear agreement” {that a} jack touching a automobile amounted to engaged on the automobile.
Alonso’s place on the podium was then restored and his celebrations might really start.
“I was on the podium, I did pictures, I took the trophy, I celebrated with champagne and now I have apparently three points less – I don’t have 15, I have 12,” Alonso told Sky Sports after studying that he had been demoted to fourth.
“But I think it’s more an FIA poor show today, more than disappointment from ourselves. You cannot apply a penalty 35 laps after the pit stop.”
On the F1 web site, an FIA spokesperson said {that a} request to evaluation the 10-second penalty was made within the ultimate lap of the race and that the definition of “working on the car” shall be clarified forward of the Australian Grand Prix subsequent month.
CNN has contacted the FIA for remark.
The 41-year-old Alonso, who made his F1 debut in 2001, has loved a robust begin to the season with Aston Martin – a shock bundle after two races.
Having positioned third in Bahrain final week, Alonso backed up his auspicious begin with one other wonderful drive, briefly main in Saudi Arabia when he overtook pole-sitter Sergio Perez on the first flip.
Perez later regained the lead and his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen additionally handed Alonso halfway via the race, however the veteran held on to P3 after the stewards evaluation, changing into simply the sixth driver in F1 historical past to safe 100 podium finishes.
“I am happy in the end with the result tonight and our second podium,” stated Alonso. “We showed that we can be the second fastest team [behind Red Bull] and we had good pace throughout the race.”
The outcome leaves Alonso third within the driver standings on 30 factors behind Verstappen and Perez. The season resumes on the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on April 2.