Fernando Alonso has been handed back his third place at Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Mercedes driver George Russell, who earlier took advantage of Alonso’s punishment, was demoted to fourth. Alonso’s Aston Martin mechanics were adjudged to have illegally touched the Spaniard’s car with the jack as he served a five-second sanction for a start infringement. ‘In the circumstances, we considered that our original decision to impose a penalty on Car 14 (Alonso) needed to be reversed and we did so accordingly.’. The Mercedes sponsors would have loved to have been on the podium, but for us it is good. ‘If George was really third in the race, he should have enjoyed the podium and not me, so I feel sorry for George, Mercedes’ sponsors and for George’s fans.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•