Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has been met with praise from fans following the Singapore Grand Prix. The Spanish driver won the driver of the day vote, which some have put down to his comments over the team radio.
“[It] is a miracle, because normally no one watches our races,” Alonso explained to ESPN about the Driver of the Day award. “Sometimes we start 20th and finish sixth, and the driver of the day is usually someone who started first and finished third, so it doesn’t really make much sense.”
After receiving an update that 34 laps remained in the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Alonso responded to his race engineer, Andrew Vizard, “If you speak to me every lap, I will disconnect the radio”.
Footage of the moment quickly began to circulate online as fans applauded the Aston Martin driver for the comment.
“And he’s rightfully mad about it. Was driving so well,” one fan commented on Reddit, while another added: “So iconic, he’ll never not be hilarious.”
Another wrote: “Stay in F1 for the radios Nando [sic]. You could be 52 still driving around still giving us bangers like this and I’d still be down for it,” and someone else commented: “Alonso is the king of team radio comedy lol [sic].”
Alonso crossed the line to finish eighth in the Singapore Grand Prix and was later promoted to seventh after Lewis Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty for a track limits infringement.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Briton struggled to keep his Ferrari within the white lines towards the end of the race after encountering brake issues.
“Yes, they told me about it two laps from the end, and I finished about a tenth behind him, so it was a bit frustrating, but at the same time I think it’s being investigated now for track limits and everything,” Alonso told DAZN after the race.
“Because when you don’t have brakes, you can’t really go off the track, because we all have to stay on the track, with or without brakes, and although he always has a bit of tolerance, hopefully today it will be a little less.”
Photos from Singapore GP – Race
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
Singapore GP – Sunday, in photos
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Motorsport.com Team