Aston Martin driver Alonso put on a masterclass in Sao Paulo by fending off Perez's quicker Red Bull, and while the Mexican was able to pass him on the penultimate lap, Alonso struck back on the final tour by setting up an overtake into Turn 4.
In a drag race to the finish, Perez ran out of road to overtake the Spaniard, the difference being 0.053s at the line.
Alonso's successful fight against a quicker car drew some parallels to his 2005 San Marino Grand Prix performance, in which he was hounded by Ferrari's Schumacher around Imola for the last 12 laps but managed to hang on for a memorable win.
When asked how the two races compare, Alonso actually felt his San Marino win was more straightforward because at the time there was no DRS at the narrow and twisty Imola circuit.
"It was easier in 2005 because it was non-DRS," Alonso said. "Now with the DRS, it seems a little bit different and you have to play things a little bit differently as well.
"And tyre management was also very different back then, where you can maybe push the tyre all the way."
The DRS overtaking aid then returned the favour to Alonso on the final lap as he punished a late braking manoeuvre from Perez in Turn 1, which set up a slingshot on the back straight.
Source: Autosport