Fernando Alonso couldn’t resist a cheeky podium statement at the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso had his chances to win the Monaco F1 Grand Prix and made a cheeky gesture on the podium after the race.

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (centre), second-placed Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso (2nd left) and third-placed Alpine driver Esteban Ocon (right). Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP

A tyre change may have cost Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso a shot at winning the Monaco Grand Prix.

So the Formula 1 veteran decided to make his feelings known in a cheeky stunt on the podium after his runner-up finish to Max Verstappen.

During the trophy presentation, Alonso quietly placed his left foot on the top step occupied by Verstappen, making a small statement about his thoughts on the outcome of the famous race.

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Alonso challenged Verstappen in the first half of the race on hard tyres, forcing the Dutch reigning world champion to do a long first stint to avoid giving up the lead by pitting.

The weather then turned with about 20 laps remaining, forcing the drivers to change tyres as the rain came down.

There was an opening for Alonso to take the lead if he switched straight away to intermediate tyres, but he opted for medium tyres and soon had to pit again for intermediates.

The left foot of Fernando Alonso (second left) may have revealed his true feelings about the race in Monaco. Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP

It was a narrow but missed opportunity for the Spaniard to move ahead of Verstappen in the pit stop chaos and vie for his first F1 win since 2013.

“If they had hit the sweet spot and went to inters at that moment, they would have had the chance to have track position over the Red Bull,” Martin Brundle said on Sky Sports.

Former world champion Jenson Button said he was a “little bit surprised by Fernando’s pit stop”.

“They didn’t want to go to the inter tyre yet, but I’m just surprised he made the pit stop,” Button said.

“In those conditions, you’re not sure if it’s going to be wet or dry, so you’d normally wait until you’re sure. Great P2 still.

“This was their best chance. It also would have put more pressure on Red Bull if they made the right tyre choice.

sorry but this is so funny to me 💀

alonso hugging the RB guy with one foot on the top step 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ZGWmBGvuee

— em⁴ || MonacoGP 🇲🇨 (@landonor4) May 28, 2023

“Even if they went on the right tyre, it would have been a close call coming out of the pits.”

Alonso finished second for his fifth podium from six races and his best result of the season. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon rounded out the podium.

It also meant Alonso became the oldest driver to claim a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix in more than 50 years.

The 41-year-old Spaniard is the oldest top-three finisher since Australian Jack Brabham, who was 44 when he finished second in 1970.

“That was difficult,” said Alonso after a race that ran for an hour and 48 minutes, requiring great concentration in difficult conditions on an unforgiving circuit.

“We opted to start on the hard tyre and hoped to play a bit of the long game in strategy, but Max drove so well, super-well, on those medium tyres to extend his first stint that we didn’t have a chance.

Winner Max Verstappen (centre) is sprayed with champagne by third-placed Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso. Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP

“And then, in the end, the rain came and made it complicated.

“Our forecast said it was only going to be light rain so I felt it was best to stay on the slick tyres and not go to the intermediates. It was not easy to drive out there. I could not use full power around the lap, braking was extremely fragile and it wasn’t easy.

“I was surprised that there were no safety cars and no incidents so I think everyone did an amazing job.”

After his first stop for slick mediums, Alonso came in again after only one lap to go on to intermediate tyres, but his hopes of catching Verstappen were dashed.

He held on to second place of Esteban Ocon of Alpine, his former team, to clinch his best result in Formula One since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.

His Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll retired with brake problems after 53 laps.

“One to forget,” the Canadian said of his race.

- With AFP