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alonso suspects podium finish for verstappen in saudi arabia

Alonso has no doubts: 'Verstappen will at least finish on the podium'

18 March 2023 at 19:21
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  • GPblog.com

Max Verstappen already showed at last season's Belgian Grand Prix that he is capable of winning a race from the backfield and in Saudi Arabia on Sunday he will try again. With a superior RB19, it is possible, thinks Fernando Alonso. Sergio Perez simply states he will drive his own race.

In the post-qualifying press conference, Alonso said that expects to duel with Verstappen tomorrow. "Max will eventually come into the race, they still have an advantage. Last year they also won a race. I have no doubt he will at least finish on the podium tomorrow," Alonso said.

One can hardly ignore the fact that with the AMR23, Aston Martin has built a car capable of competing for podiums most weekends, but the Spanish driver is not blowing the whistle too high. Quite the contrary, in fact. "Our goals are not to fight with Red Bull. Our biggest mistake would be if we do not manage to score points," he is quite cautious.

Perez mainly concerned with Alonso

Perez knows Verstappen is going to make up a lot of positions tomorrow, but the Mexican is only focusing on himself. "I won't go into the race tomorrow thinking about Max. I have to make sure I stay in the lead in the first laps. And I have to keep that lion [Alonso] behind me. That would be good, then I can concentrate on my race."