Sunday’s focus was firmly on securing P7 in the Constructors’ Championship, but within a few laps, it became clear that our destiny would be out of our control.
We had done all we could do across the season and were not in a position at the Abu Dhabi GP to lock in that result ourselves.
In this week’s edition of Radio Replay, discover the transmission between Alex and his Race Engineer James Urwin across the final laps.
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LAP 52/58:
PIT: Tsunoda currently P7. Three seconds back to him is Alonso who is about one second a lap quicker, so all good on that front.
LAP 53/58:
PIT: Six to go, six to go.
LAP 55/58:
PIT: Sainz, currently P10, has done double hard so he needs to pit again. He will emerge just behind you. Four laps to go.
LAP 56/58:
ALEX: What was that?
PIT: It was a gust coming out of T5. Three laps to go, gap at 4.6.
LAP 57/58:
PIT: Let’s go Mode 5, Sainz will be emerging behind. Two laps to go.
PIT: OK, Sainz new soft, one second back.
LAP 58/58:
PIT: OK, starting the last lap now. Into Turn 9, we’ll use the overtake.
CHEQUERED FLAG:
PIT: OK, Chequered Flag. P14, within three seconds of Gasly at the end. Tsunoda P8, P8.
ALEX: Ah, well done everyone!
JAMES: Well done, Alex. Your hard work this year is what brought us seventh in the Constructors' Championship. It's a proud moment. You can sit up tall as a result of that and look back on yourself and be incredibly proud of what you've achieved.
Thank you for your hard work all season. I'm sorry we didn't have a car beneath you today to finish it in style.
ALEX: No, thank you. Thanks, James. Thank you, everyone. It was a hard-fought season. I think we did an amazing job, so everyone should be very proud of themselves. I feel like this is just the start of really good things.
So, enjoy the rest. I know I will haha! Thank you, everyone. Does this mean I get to do donuts?
PIT: Ha, absolutely not! Well done, mate. Well done.
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And there we have it, that’s how Alex was kept up-to-date on our progress in the fight for P7.
With AlphaTauri opting for a one-stop strategy with Yuki Tsunoda, and Daniel Ricciardo’s progress through the field delayed by an astute multi-lap defence by Logan, it was pretty clear that the job was done.
Alex was doing a good job of catching the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, ultimately finishing within three seconds of the French driver at the chequered flag.
He also had the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz on fresh softs to deal with on the penultimate tour, before the Spaniard peeled into the pits and retired.
James Vowles was quick to congratulate Alex on a fine season, one that our No23 feels has been the strongest of his career.
Alex ensured that his feelings were also directed back to the whole team, who have worked tirelessly to get us into this position. Although, his light-hearted attempt for a few end-of-season donuts was swiftly refused! We did have a post-season test to prepare for, after all!
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