Fernando Alonso reinstated to podium after penalty overturned - what exactly happened and what next?

20.03.2023 - 13:55 eurosport.com

Aston Martin Racing’s Fernando Alonso has been restored to third place in the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a time penalty was overturned, thus securing his 100th career podium.

Alonso, 41, finished third in the second race of the season, behind race-winner Sergio Perez and championship leader Max Verstappen, both Red Bull.

Ad And after a chaotic back and forth, which involved Alonso being stripped of his podium finish, he was finally confirmed as the third-place finisher.

Saudi Arabian Grand PrixVerstappen sets pace at FP2 ahead of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix17/03/2023 AT 19:01 Let’s break down exactly what happened here.

Boxing Sporting FIA penalty Max Verstappen Sergio Perez Fernando Alonso Saudi Arabia

Max Verstappen won the Australian Grand Prix for the first time in his career on Sunday after two late red flags and several crashes caused chaos at Albert Park before before the Red Bull driver was allowed a processional victory lap.

Alonso gets lucky again to claim third podium

MELBOURNE : Fernando Alonso made it three podiums out of three races at the Australian Grand Prix as the Aston Martin driver ended up on the right side of Formula One stewards again on a drama-filled Sunday.

Fernando Alonso Fastest In Wet Australian Second practice, Max Verstappen Third

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets ahead of Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc in a rain-hit second practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, but world champion Max Verstappen went fastest for the day. The Spanish veteran followed up his podium finishes at the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with another eye-opening run. He powered around the bumpy Albert Park circuit under darkening clouds before rain fell in a best time of one minute 18.887 seconds among his 13 laps, bettering his fourth place in the first one-hour session.

Australian Grand Prix: Rain causes unknowns as Fernando Alonso tops FP2 after chaotic FP1 in Melbourne

Fernando Alonso was fastest in a rain-affected second practice for the Australian Grand Prix. Alonso beat Charles Leclerc by 0.445 seconds, with Max Verstappen a further 0.170 further adrift, although all the best lap times were set on the medium tyres as rain meant the normal qualifying simulations were not conducted. Ad George Russell was fourth for Mercedes, while Lewis Hamilton struggled with setup so was down in 13th place.

F1 clarifies pitstop penalties after Alonso confusion

MELBOURNE : Formula One officials confirmed on Friday that teams can no longer touch their cars with jacks during penalty pitstops in the wake of the Fernando Alonso controversy at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

F1 drivers welcome wider grid slots after penalties

MELBOURNE : Formula One drivers welcomed wider grid slots from Sunday's Australian Grand Prix after Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso were penalised for missing their marks in the season's first two races.