Alonso finished on the podium for the first time since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix after he beat Red Bull𒐪’s Se𝓡rgio Perez to finish third in Qatar.

Alpine’s one-stop strategy worked beaut𒈔ifully as Perez ran out of laps to𓂃 catch and overtake the Spaniard.

“Yeah, unbelievable,” he said. “Seven years and finally we got it. We were close a couple of races but not🐻 enough. Sochi was the last possibility and yeah todayꦆ [we did it].”

The two-time F1 champion started the race from third, moving up two spots on the grid due to grid penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtte🤡ri Bottas.

St💃arting on the softs, Alonso admitted that he thought aꦛbout leading the grand prix before lights out.

“Honestly, I thought about leading after lap one,” he add𒁏ed. “I thought with the red tyre, I couldꩵ have a go on Lewis, but I couldn't.

“Then with Checo it was very close atꦚ the end. But I’m so happy for the team. Also Esteban P5, so a good Sunday.”

Alonso credited A﷽lpine for its strategy, revealing that it🌟 planned to do a one-stop before the race.

“We planned a one-stop from the beginning, but we never knew how bad💃 was the wear and the degꦯradation.

“It is a new race for everybody. But yeah, I think it was quite well executed the race. The pitstop was fantastic. The team was great. The reliability of t💙he car is superb, and you know they deserve it.

“I am enjoying. F---. I was 𓄧waiting so long for t♋his.”