Alonso Compares Battle With Perez To 2005 Battle With Michael Schumacher: 'It Was Easier'
F1Wednesday, 08 November 2023 at 07:00
Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso compared his 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix with Sergio Perez to his 2005 battle with Michael Schumacher at Imola.
Fernando Alonso fought one of the toughest battles in his career during last weekend's race at Interlagos Circuit as he managed to hold on to the third position by a mere 0.053 seconds at the finish line.
The two-time World Champion confessed he thought everything was lost when he got overtaken by Sergio Perez during the penultimate lap of the race.
But he did not give up and managed to take his position back during the final lap. After the race, Alonso was asked to compare the battle with Perez to the 2005 Imola battle for the first position with Michael Schumacher.
"It was easier in 2005 because it was non-DRS. So that was probably easier. Now, with the DRS, it seems a little bit different, and you have to play things a little bit differently as well."
What Alonso tried to say was that he would not be able to defend Schumacher in 2005 if he had DRS at his disposal. On the other hand, the DRS was what allowed Alonso to regain the position back from Perez, so it cuts both ways.
"And tire management is also very different than back then, where you can maybe push the tire all the way. If in 2005 you lose the position, then it’s bye-bye, you cannot recover and here I had another chance."
DRS - the Drag Reduction System is the opening of the rear wing on the straight that allows the F1 car to go faster, and it was introduced to provide F1 fans with more action, more battles, and more overtakes.
"It has been introduced to provide a little bit better show and today is a good example of that because you get overtaken two laps from the end and then you have another chance, especially here in Brazil."
And not only fans enjoyed watching the battle between Alonso and Perez. Max Verstappen confessed he almost drove off the track as he was watching the battle.
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