Working With Fernando Alonso Completely Different to Popular Opinion : McLaren Boss
Follow Us
Fernando Alonso returns to the world of F1 racing in 2021 with Renault. As a legend of the sport, with two world titles to his name, many would think that someone of his stature would have a big say in what the team does. However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown rubbishes those claims.
The Spaniard raced for McLaren from 2015 to 2018, and although his results are nothing to write home about, he shared a good relationship with the team and Brown.
Speaking about the speculation regarding Alonso being a manipulator in the team, Brown said, “People are under the impression that Fernando was calling the shots at McLaren. That was just so far from the truth.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“You have a 2-times world champion and you value his input. But he never once said, give me this, do this, do that. He was just driving our race car. It is a shame but there are a lot of wrong ideas about that.”
Alonso joined McLaren following a 5-year spell at Ferrari. In a period where McLaren were in a severe decline, the Spaniard often put up rather solid performances.
Barring his debut season with the team, Alonso outperformed his teammates by quite a margin, especially in 2016 and 2018. Although he left F1 in 2018, Alonso still raced for McLaren at the Indy500, chasing his dream to win the ‘triple crown’ in Motorsport.
McLaren CEO recalls funny incident between Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Brown said, “There was a funny incident in Monza. (It) was the first time Lando was up against Fernando in free practice 1. They were trading times, he (Lando) was quick. Then on the last run, it was funny, Lando looked like he was going to put in a slightly quicker time.
“(But) Fernando says he didn’t see him and messed up his lap on the third sector and we all kind of laughed on the pit wall. It wasn’t anything nasty, it was, ‘Welcome to the big boy club.‘ He’s not going to have the new boy come in and not teach him a few lessons.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”
April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT
Who are Zhou Guanyu’s Parents? Everything We Know About The Chinese Driver’s Family
April 16, 2024 02:07 PM EDT
Adrian Newey Hits Out at Climate Activist Lewis Hamilton’s Fuel Protest, Desperate to See V10 Engines Again
April 15, 2024 12:35 PM EDT
Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department Sends F1 Fans Into a Frenzy: “Its a Fernando Reference”
April 19, 2024 09:43 AM EDT
Charles Leclerc: “He [Carlos Sainz] Is Fighting Me More Than Others”
April 20, 2024 06:05 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Credit to Lando, who seems to have learned a lot from those ‘lessons’. Coming into a team as an 18-year-old, replacing one of the legends of the sport, wouldn’t be an easy task. But Norris has done an amazing job thus far.
Still only 20 years of age, big things are expected from the young Briton. The prospect of him battling Alonso in the Renault next year would be a treat to watch.