Alonso’s Defensive Tactics Pay Off at Japanese Grand Prix

The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was a thrilling race, with plenty of action and drama on track. But one of the most intriguing battles was happening further down the field, as Fernando Alonso found himself once again needing to defend his position against a charging George Russell.

Just two weeks after receiving a penalty for dangerous driving against Russell in Australia, Alonso was once again in a position where he needed to hold off the young British driver. And this time, he had a clever strategy up his sleeve.

As Russell closed in on seventh-placed Oscar Piastri, who was also fighting for position, Alonso made the decision to give Piastri the benefit of DRS (Drag Reduction System) by keeping him within one second of his car. This meant that Russell, who had fresher tires, would have a harder time overtaking Piastri and catching up to Alonso.

This tactic was similar to one used by Carlos Sainz in Singapore last year, where he kept Lando Norris within DRS range to hold off a charging Russell. And it worked brilliantly for Alonso, as Russell was unable to make a move and eventually collided with Piastri, allowing the Aston Martin driver to secure his position.

In an interview with Kosport Magazine, Alonso joked about his defensive tactics, saying, “I don’t know what to say anymore after Australia, let’s see if I get disqualified for the rest of the championship.” But in all seriousness, he explained that it was just a normal racing strategy and that he was using Piastri to defend himself from Russell.

Piastri also acknowledged Alonso’s tactics, saying, “I could tell that Fernando was trying to keep me there by the way he was using his energy. With how difficult it is to follow in these cars, it’s quite a good strategy to stop a quicker car coming through.”

In the end, Russell was able to overtake Piastri on the final lap, but the young Australian driver admitted that he made a mistake and lost momentum, allowing Russell to pass. Despite the disappointment, Piastri recognized the effectiveness of Alonso’s strategy.

The Japanese Grand Prix was a reminder of Alonso’s experience and clever racecraft, as he was able to use his knowledge and tactics to defend his position against a faster car. And with the championship still wide open, we can expect to see more exciting battles and strategic moves from Alonso in the races to come.

Summary: Alonso’s Clever Strategy Holds Off Russell at Japanese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso once again found himself defending his position against George Russell at the Japanese Grand Prix. But this time, he had a clever strategy up his sleeve, using Oscar Piastri to hold off Russell and secure his position. Despite eventually losing seventh place to Russell, Piastri acknowledged the effectiveness of Alonso’s tactics. This race was a reminder of Alonso’s experience and racecraft, and we can expect to see more exciting battles and strategic moves from him in the future.