The strategy followed by Fernando Alonso in Brazil for finish fifth starting from seventeenth place surprised everyone. The Spaniard entered the pit lane very soon, on lap 15, to set up a new set of resources. Thanks to this early stoppage, he managed to undercut all the midfield riders in front of him.
But the two-time champion had to stop again and that’s when Alpine went into action. “For now we are considering plan B,” says his engineer. “I think I disagree“, was Fernando’s response.
Later, his engineer tells him the following again: “For now we are evaluating what is planned plus 10 laps.” alonso He continued with the refusal, wanting to follow the plan they had in mind from the beginning: “I think I can do it, but with a slower pace. I think we should go ahead as planned.. We’re doing well, we’re competitive.”
The ‘Stop inventing’ version @alo_oficial 😁
When Alpine planned to change strategy, but… Fernando didn’t seem to agree.
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Finally Alpine followed Alonso’s thought and the Spaniard made his second stop on lap 36. A disastrous ‘pit stop’ that lasted 10 seconds and who knows if he could deprive the Oviedo from getting on the podium.
Alonso made the right decision
This decision meant that when the Safety Car caused by Lando Norris on lap 52, off something perfect for Fernando to mount the soft tires and reach the end.
Because if I had listened to Alpine’s strategy, alonso would have stopped on lap 46 and would have met the Safety Car with new wheels, having to stop again, losing many positions. Fortunately, that was not what happened.
Luck smiled on Alonso for once
Thanks to following the initial strategy, the Safety Car caught Alonso rolling fifthwhich made when doing the last ‘pit-stop’ lose ‘only’ four positions. This time fortune was on the pilot’s side. Alpine.
Then, with younger wheels than all the riders in front of him, he staged a great comeback overtaking Esteban OconSebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. And very close she stayed to pass to charles leclerc and finish fourth.
