A look back at podium #1 for Fernando Alonso

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It took the better part of three and a half hours after the checkered flag to make the call in Jeddah on Sunday, but Fernando Alonso officially scored his 100th career podium in Formula 1.

Alonso's milestone achievement in Saudi Arabia has put the Aston Martin charger among a privileged club of only six drivers who have clinched at least 100 podiums in F1, namely Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Kimi Raikkonen and himself.

Alonso's century run started two decades ago in 2003, during his second year in F1.

In the second round of the season, in Malaysia – which that weekend also happened to be the venue of his first pole position in F1 – the then Renault young gun finished third at Kuala Lumpur behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen and runner-up Rubens Barrichello.

Alonso's hard-fought podium in Jeddah was also his second consecutive top-three achieved with Aston Martin.

There's no doubt the 41-year-old will be aiming a hat-trick next week in Australia.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.