Perez hails Alonso after podium fight: 'Drivers can learn from him'

Sergio Perez has heaped praise on Fernando Alonso following their seismic podium battle at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Perez chased Alonso for a number of laps as the race entered its final stages, with Alonso attempting to cling on to the final podium spot.

Alonso briefly slipped behind Perez when the Red Bull driver made a move into Turn 1 before the Aston Martin driver claimed the position back into Turn 4.

The two ran side-by-side to the finish line on the final lap and Alonso clung on to third place by just five-hundredths of a second.

It marked a huge result for Aston Martin who has struggled for pace against the front-running competition since the return after the summer break.

Perez has stated that other drivers in the field can learn from the clinical nature of Alonso's driving during their battle.

“It was well deserved from Fernando,” Perez told Sky Sports. “We had a great fight, very fair and to the limit.

“I think this is something that a lot of drivers can learn from because what we did, the way we fought, I think that is how it should be done.

“I'm on the wrong side, I ended up losing, but it's fine.”

Good result 'a matter of time'

Perez's run to fourth followed a painful home outing last weekend in Mexico where he crashed out on the opening lap after making contact with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The Red Bull driver showed encouraging pace during the Grand Prix in Brazil as he recovered from ninth place after being caught out by yellow flags during qualifying on Friday.

“We've seen in the last couple of races that the pace has been there, that we've been really strong,” Perez asserted.

“For some reason or another, we haven't been able to get the final end result. But I just know that it's a matter of time.”