Alonso's 'Unconventional Lines' prove decisive in final-lap battle with Perez

The climax of the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix saw a thrilling late battle between Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, as the pair dueled for the final spot on the podium in the closing laps at Interlagos.

In a race dominated by Max Verstappen, who cruised to a comfortable victory, it was the fight for third that provided the edge-of-the-seat drama.

With fresher tyres, Perez managed to sweep past Alonso's Aston Martin into Turn 1 on lap 70 of 71.

But the wily Spaniard fought back valiantly on the final tour, forcing Perez off line through the opening corners before pulling off an audacious move around the outside of Turn 4 using DRS.

Alonso then opted for an unusually wide entry into the final corner, compromising his apex speed but gaining superior drive up the hill to just hold off the charging Red Bull.

According to Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack, it was Alonso's willingness to take "unconventional lines" that proved decisive in this tense battle.

The two-time champion varied his lines through several corners in order to protect his worn tyres, which had degraded more quickly than expected.

This strategic thinking allowed Alonso to have just enough grip to fend off Perez's challenge over the last lap and secure a vital podium by a mere 0.053 seconds.

"You could see the huge experience, how [Alonso] managed his game there against someone that on paper has a quicker car," remarked Krack, praising Alonso's guile and racecraft.

With Aston Martin returning to the podium for the first time since Zandvoort, it was a hard-fought result for the British team.

While Verstappen may have made it look easy at the front, this scrap for the last rostrum spot gave fans a first-hand look at how critical it is for drivers to find performance through subtle variations in racing line and corner entry.

For Alonso, his unpredictable approach paid dividends, capping off a fighting drive from fourth on the grid.

It reiterated how the 41-year-old's cunning and versatility can still deliver among F1's new generation.