Fernando Alonso has taken aim at Formula 1’s official broadcasters, accusing them of selectively portraying him as a “grumpy” driver through their use of radio messages. The criticism came after the Spaniard’s frustrated remarks during a challenging Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend were featured prominently on TV.
The Incident: “Worst Car Ever”
During Saturday’s final practice session, Alonso lashed out over team radio, venting his frustrations about traffic and Aston Martin’s mismanagement of his run plan. Returning to the pits, he sharply criticized the team, stating:
“Worst car ever, and worst traffic preparation ever. Next time I will do the out-lap myself.”
The comments echoed Alonso’s infamous “GP2 engine” outburst from his McLaren-Honda days, a moment that has become iconic in F1 lore.
Alonso Calls Out FOM
Following qualifying, Alonso defended his remarks, explaining that his frustrations stemmed from traffic issues and strategic missteps by Aston Martin. However, he took the opportunity to criticize Formula 1’s broadcasters, FOM, for perpetuating a negative image of him.
“FOM has this fix with me, with bad comments – but I’m happy with that. It’s their job,” Alonso said. “They sell me as the grumpy guy. They’ve tried for years, but they will not succeed.”
Alonso argued that the selective airing of his radio outbursts lacks context and misrepresents the nature of driver-engineer conversations.
“You’re trying different things with your engineer, and sometimes you disagree. But when you don’t have all that context and just put the radio message, it’s wrong. But it’s the way they do it.”
Turning the Weekend Around
Despite his frustrations, Alonso managed to turn the tide by qualifying eighth for the season finale, outpacing drivers like Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez. Aston Martin’s overnight setup changes brought the car back into a competitive window, allowing Alonso to progress to Q3 after a dismal start to the weekend.
“We seemed to find the right window with the car in qualifying,” Alonso said. “The car felt much better tonight, and I managed to put in some good laps.”
Aston Martin’s Season Woes
Alonso’s frustrations underscore Aston Martin’s late-season struggles. After a strong start to 2024, the team’s performance declined dramatically, leaving them a distant fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. However, Alonso remains optimistic about finishing the year on a high note.
“We will try our best to enjoy the final race of the season tomorrow and hopefully score some more points,” he said.
The Bigger Picture
Alonso’s criticism of FOM sheds light on the broader issue of narrative control in Formula 1 broadcasting. While his fiery radio comments make for dramatic TV, they often overshadow his achievements and contributions on track.
As Alonso put it:
“They can try to sell me as the grumpy guy, but I’m here to perform, and I’m happy to let my results speak for themselves.”
Final Push for Points
With the Abu Dhabi GP marking the end of a turbulent season for Aston Martin, Alonso’s focus remains on delivering a strong finish. Starting from eighth, the two-time champion aims to cap off 2024 with a performance that reinforces his reputation as one of F1’s fiercest competitors—grumpy radio messages or not.
