George Russell the real Saudi GP winner after Fernando Alonso's battle with FIA
Sergio Perez won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but, thanks once again to another FIA mess, the big story after the race was all about who would be awarded third place.
Fernando Alonso was in that position on the track and even collected the trophy on the podium. But pretty much as soon as the champagne spraying was over he was brought crashing back down to earth – he would have to wait, he was told, for that 100th career podium finish.
Footage suggested he had not properly served an in-race time penalty because an Aston Martin mechanic touched his car with a jack while he was doing so. And so the stewards added 10 seconds to his finish time, knocking him down a place.
Alonso was furious – not necessarily at the penalty itself, but at how long it had taken to give it. As he pointed out, 35 laps passed between the alleged rule-break and the awarding of the penalty and, by giving it after the race, the Spaniard was denied the chance to mitigate against it.
Several hours after the conclusion of the race, it became clear that Aston Martin were appealing the decision and that they had won. Alonso kept his podium, the trophy, the extra three points and the satisfaction of having prevailed against what he felt was an unjust sanction.
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George Russell was not part of any of the arguments in the stewards' room, but was still involved in the situation. Alonso's penalty had meant he was promoted to third place. While the Brit was not complaining about the prospect of taking home extra points, he showed plenty of class as he backed his rival.
"I think the penalty for Fernando was pretty harsh," he said when facing the TV cameras after the race – and after being told he had been promoted to third place. He went on to add: "They are deserving podium finishers today."
There's a reason why Russell is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. All F1 racers have to be selfish to an extent, but the Brit has shown, despite being one of the younger drivers on the grid, that he is able to separate his own ambitions from what he feels is right and just.
He later called from a common sense approach to penalties, adding: "I feel like some of these penalties have been a little bit too extreme. I think a little bit of common sense needs to be shown. " He also described both the penalties given to Alonso in Jeddah as "extreme".
Russell unselfishness did not go unnoticed by Aston Martin. One of the first things the team did after Alonso learned that his podium would be reinstated was to send a public message to the Mercedes driver: "Thank you for being a true sportsman today, George. Gracious from start to finish."
The mess the stewards and the FIA made of the whole situation regarding Alonso's penalty left a sour taste after the Saudi GP weekend. The sportsmanship and maturity on show from Russell throughout helped to wash it away.
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