Alonso-Pérez 2023, remake of Gasly-Hamilton 2019. Alonso-Pérez 2023, a remake of Gasly-Hamilton 2019
Fernando Alonso and Sergio Pérez were separated by a photo finish on the finish line of the Brazil Grand Prix 2023. A situation that had already occurred four years earlier.
As often at Interlagos, the weekend was filled with several events. This 2023 edition, although quieter than previous years, did not deviate from the rule. From the apocalyptic conditions of the qualifying session to Charles Leclerc’s off-track excursion during the warm-up lap, not to mention the pressure put on Verstappen by Norris at the start of the race, there was no shortage of twists and turns. But it was in the final laps of the race that the Brazilian track really heated up.
For 53 thousandths of a second, Fernando Alonso resisted Sergio Pérez to secure his 8th podium of the season. Behind the wheel of his Aston Martin, the Spanish driver engaged in a fantastic battle with the Mexican’s Red Bull in the final laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
This arrival is not without reminding of the one that saw Pierre Gasly and Lewis Hamilton compete in 2019. Still at Interlagos, the two drivers were only separated by 62 thousandths of a second on the finish line in their battle for the second step of the podium. Even though the Mercedes driver was later penalized 5 seconds for a collision with Alex Albon, this fierce duel had ignited the end of the race. Ultimately finishing in 7th place, the Briton had relinquished his spot on the podium to Carlos Sainz. For the Frenchman and the Spaniard, it was their first podium in Formula 1.
In a difficult season for Gasly, marked by his sudden demotion to Toro Rosso after starting the season with Red Bull, this Brazilian Grand Prix is synonymous with renewal and a fresh start. Named as a driver for the Faenza team for the last five races of the 2017 season, Gasly had several outstanding performances the following year, culminating in a magnificent 4th place finish in Bahrain.
His good results are rewarded with a promotion at Red Bull for the 2019 season, replacing Daniel Ricciardo who has gone to Renault. After 12 difficult Grand Prix races alongside Max Verstappen and no podium finishes, Gasly returns to Toro Rosso during the summer and gives his place at Red Bull to Alex Albon who is going the other way.
At Interlagos, the native of Rouen had a very impressive qualifying session, finishing 6th on the grid. After a cautious start that kept him within the Top 10, the Frenchman followed his team’s plan and remained in the leading group. Everything changed on the 66th lap when the two Ferraris of Leclerc and Vettel collided before turn 4.
A memorable arrival
The race is then neutralized by a safety car. Hamilton, second behind Verstappen, enters the pits to change to soft tires and comes out fourth behind the Dutchman, Albon, and Gasly. The cars are then released for two laps. Hamilton quickly overtakes Gasly and goes side by side with Albon in the twisty part of the circuit but misses his move and sends the Thai driver into a spin. Gasly takes advantage by overtaking both of his rivals.
In the final lap, all eyes then turned to the battle between the Frenchman and the Englishman for second place. The Toro Rosso driver heroically resisted as Hamilton moved to his left in the last uphill stretch towards the finish line. Gasly held on by a few thousandths of a second and secured his first podium in F1, the third in Toro Rosso’s history.
