'Gladiator' Alonso rolls back the years with Bahrain overtaking brilliance
F1 News
'Gladiator' Alonso rolls back the years with Bahrain overtaking brilliance
Fernando Alonso delivered a masterful display in the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, showing off the very best of his overtaking skills on his way to a podium finish.
After starting fifth on the grid and receiving a whack on the rear wheel from his team-mate Lance Stroll on the first lap, the Spaniard – now 41 and in his 20th full F1 season – recovered to finish third behind the Red Bulls.
For a while, Alonso was having to showcase his overtaking just to get back up to fifth, passing George Russell first on lap 13, through turns four, five and six, then he became involved in a breathtaking battle with Lewis Hamilton as the veterans locked horns.
Alonso pushed hard made a move on Hamilton, again for P5, on turn four, on lap 37 before Hamilton passed him back on the run out of the corner. A couple of laps later though, the Aston Martin driver got his revenge with a magnificent move on turn 10 as he made an audacious pass down the inside.
The Asturian then profited for Charles Leclerc's power failure to move up to fourth, and dished more misery for Ferrari when he passed compatriot Carlo Sainz on lap 45 after a lock-up by the younger man on turn 10, holding on from there to cement a debut podium for his new team.
Rosberg: Alonso is a gladiator
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the race, 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg admitted he was delighted to see Alonso mixing it at the front once again.
Hesaid: "It's like the story of the moment, isn't it?
"We all appreciate him as a gladiator, out there on track you just know he's gonna maximise the machinery he has, fight for every inch, every lap."
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Australia 2023
- Grand Prix of China 2023
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
- Miami Grand Prix 2023
- Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
- AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
- Grand Prix du Canada 2023
- Grand Prix of Austria 2023
- Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Italy 2023
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
- Grand Prix of Japan 2023
- Qatar Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of the United States 2023
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
- Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
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