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Alonso joked about F1 ban over Piastri DRS defence tactics
Two weeks after receiving a penalty in Australia for a risky move against George Russell, Fernando Alonso had to defend his position once again at Suzuka. As the race reached its conclusion, Alonso found himself in a fierce battle for sixth place, with Russell in eighth closing in on seventh-placed Oscar Piastri. Alonso strategically ensured Piastri stayed within one second to benefit from DRS and impede Russell’s progress with fresher tires. This tactic effectively slowed down Russell’s advancement, and a clash between Russell and Piastri allowed Alonso to secure his position. Alonso, speaking after the race, downplayed his defensive maneuvers as “normal racing,” humorously referencing his previous penalty in Australia. Piastri acknowledged Alonso’s strategy, admitting he lost seventh place to Russell after a mistake on the final lap, describing his own struggles during the race.
