Walter Finch
SPANISH Formula 1 legend Fernando Alonso has heaped praise on British motorsport fans ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The two-time world champion, who drives for Aston Martin, declared they ‘understand Formula 1 like no other’ public in the world.
The glowing tribute was made during media day at Silverstone, where he will compete in what he describes as one of the most special circuits on the calendar.
“There are two things that make Silverstone special,” the Asturian driver explained.
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“One is racing in front of the British public, who understand Formula 1 like few others.
“They don’t just come for the spectacle – they come because they know this sport as much as the engineers in the paddock.”
The 42-year-old veteran’s comments will likely resonate with British F1 enthusiasts, who have long prided themselves on their deep knowledge of the sport that originated in their backyard.
Alonso’s praise comes as a refreshing change from the often generic tributes drivers typically pay to different national audiences.
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The Spaniard, who has been racing in F1 for over two decades, went on to highlight Silverstone’s technical merits, describing it as ‘probably the best circuit on the calendar’ for the current generation of ground-effect cars, with its high-speed corners perfectly suited to modern Formula 1 machinery.
However, Alonso remained characteristically realistic about his chances this weekend, acknowledging that the top four teams remain ‘light years ahead’ of the rest of the field.
The former Ferrari and McLaren driver admitted he would consider a points finish ‘another good weekend,’ targeting ninth or tenth place as a realistic goal.
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“The top eight cars from those four teams are almost untouchable,” he said.
“Only if something happens, like in Austria where two of those eight didn’t finish in the top three, does the option of sixth or seventh open up. But that’s not normal.”
When asked about his reputation for strong race pace, Alonso’s response was equally direct: “I was” – referring specifically to his performance in the recent Austrian Grand Prix, where he managed to match the pace of faster cars without excessive tyre wear.
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