F1: Fernando Alonso explains how he schooled Lewis Hamilton

by Mark Cipolloni

Fernando Alonso was delighted to school Lewis Hamilton en route to the F1 podium on his debut with Aston Martin.

Alonso dropped from fifth to seventh at the start of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, but drove brilliantly to claim a stunning third place.

After trading places with Hamilton through Turns 4 and 5, Alonso pulled off a sensational move to school Hamilton at Turn 10.

Alonso then chased down and swept by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to snatch the final spot on the podium.

“We were not very fast on the straights,” Alonso said. “Eventually, you normally pass into Turn 1 or into Turn 4.

“I think I passed Lewis into Turn 10 and Carlos into Turn 11, so not the normal places because we could not match their straight line speed.

“We had to make some moves in the corners before, in Turn 10 and Turn 11 and change the straight and then get the overtake done.

“I think for Lewis, was more playing a surprise move there because no one overtakes into Turn 11, let’s say.

“Then Carlos, he was close into Turn 10 again. He closed the door, and then I had a better exit. We need to see that because we would love to pass on the main straight like everyone does.”

Speaking to Sky about his duel with Hamilton, Alonso added: “A lot of respect between us.

“It’s never the same when you fight against Lewis, one of the legends of our sport, and you know he can do something unexpected and use his talent.

“He got me in Turn 4 at the start, I was in front of him, but he managed to pass me there, so that was a little bit of a surprise and I didn’t like it.

“Later I tried to repass him in Turn 10, and it worked, and I had more pace, so I could pull away.”