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Fernando Alonso won two world championships and compared his fight with George Russell in Austria to a title battle, even if it was only for 10th place.
Russell was 10th in the later stages of the race as he tried to hold onto his first point for Williams, while Alonso recovered from a start in 14th and on cooler tires. The pair fought for a number of laps before Alonso finally put his Alpine in the lead in Turn 4, and the Spaniard then said he hoped it would be a different rider who he snatched the last point.
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“It was very intense,” Alonso said. “Unfortunately for only one point, but it felt like it was the last round of the championship for us, because a point is worth gold for him and for us too after starting 14th. It was nice. somehow, when I saw it was George, I felt a little sad that the battle must have been with him.
“But I think he will have the opportunity to stand on podiums and fight for race wins in the future if he goes to Mercedes, so times will be different for him.
READ MORE: Alonso calls Russell ‘future world champion’ in helmet swap post
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“But I enjoyed today. A point at the start of the 14th was perhaps not planned because our simulations this morning were a little more pessimistic than those of the P10, so I understand and that’s something.
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Alonso was forced to start 14th after an incident in qualifying which saw him hampered by Sebastian Vettel in Q2, and he says that moment changed the complexion of his race but he is encouraged by the wider picture of form current Alpine.
“For a point, it was like the last lap of the championship position! It was just a point but I think it was the least we deserved for the whole team.
“The performance this weekend has been very good and it’s very little reward probably for a point. At least we keep scoring every Sunday – I think for the last four Grands Prix – so let’s keep it that way.
“I think after yesterday our weekend has changed drastically so that we can fight for P5 / P6 or P10 or P11 like today. So it’s a big change but there is nothing we can do. now so let’s take that point, learn the lessons from this weekend and see silverstone.
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“I’m curious to see how the car performs there, it’s a very different circuit with a lot of high speed corners, the Sprint on Saturday… So a lot of things are new at Silverstone so curiosity is definitely rising. “
Alpine is heading towards his second home race of the season, the British GP, 12 points behind Aston Martin and seventh in the Championship – Alonso having won 20 of the team’s 32 points.
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