Alonso brushes off attention after gesture, calling it fuss over ‘nonsense’

Fernando Alonso reacted sharply after a gesture, then downplayed its significance when speaking to Formula 1’s official media. “Yo no hago nada, le prestáis demasiada atención a tonterías,” he said, accusing observers of making too much of minor details.

The sporting context nevertheless gave reason to take notice of his day. It had been several Grands Prix since Alonso had reached the positions he managed on Friday at Sepang, the venue chosen at short notice for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Since Zandvoort, where he finished ninth after a long first stint and strong tyre-degradation management, his Aston Martin had remained near the bottom of the Formula 1 standings. This time, he finished 14th in the morning session and 15th in FP2, placing him in a better position to contend in the midfield. In Malaysia, the Spaniard had also put together a solid day, although he did not want to attach too much significance to it.

Alonso said he had paid no attention to his position or the run plans: “Sólo me subí al coche y no tengo ni idea de nada más. No sé la posición, tampoco las tandas.” Pedro de la Rosa, the team’s ambassador, also played down the gesture. He suggested several possible explanations, from looking for fresh air to moving his hands while speaking over the radio, while making clear he did not know the reason. He also said the team had tested a cooling suit to see whether it worked.

Tyre degradation is expected to be a key factor over the weekend. Alonso said it was significant in the high temperatures and with the marks on the tyres, adding that the team was considering its strategy and settings to protect them better. De la Rosa said the team had completed its programme and that the car had behaved as expected on a more slippery, bumpy track. Aston Martin therefore appears to have passed an initial test, while Alonso has a car that, in the context described, could perform well in managing degradation.