Fernando Alonso Secures 100th Podium in Saudi Arabia After Controversial Penalty Drama

Fernando Alonso celebrated his 100th Formula One podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his career. However, the confirmation of this achievement came after a series of developments, including the overturning of a delayed penalty that initially dropped him to fourth place.

Initially handed a five-second penalty for lining up outside his grid slot, Alonso faced additional scrutiny when stewards ruled that a jack had touched the rear of his car during the penalty-serving pit stop. This led to a further 10-second sanction, pushing Mercedes driver George Russell to third place.

Alonso’s Aston Martin team contested the decision, prompting the FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, to reconsider. The FIA concluded that there was “no clear agreement” that a jack touching a car constituted working on the vehicle. As a result, Alonso’s podium position was reinstated, and his celebrations could resume.

Expressing his thoughts on the situation, Alonso criticized the FIA, stating, “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.” He emphasized the peculiar timing of the penalty application, questioning the legitimacy of a penalty imposed 35 laps after the pit stop.

The FIA spokesperson mentioned that a request to review the 10-second penalty was made in the final lap of the race, and the definition of “working on the car” will be clarified before the Australian Grand Prix next month.

Despite the controversy, Alonso, a 41-year-old veteran making his F1 debut in 2001, has had a strong start to the season with Aston Martin. Following his third-place finish in Bahrain, Alonso showcased another impressive performance in Saudi Arabia. While briefly leading in the early stages, he secured a podium finish, becoming the sixth driver in F1 history to achieve 100 podiums.

Reflecting on the race, Alonso expressed satisfaction with the result, highlighting the team’s competitiveness as the second-fastest behind Red Bull. The victory places Alonso third in the driver standings with 30 points, trailing Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. The F1 season resumes with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on April 2.