Alonso, Spanish Crowd Delight Each Other
Fernando Alonso may not have delivered the ultimate prize of victory in his home Spanish Grand Prix but he was still very much his nation's sporting hero on Sunday
A huge, record crowd at the Circuit de Catalunya greeted the Renault driver as a champion in waiting and the 23-year-old reciprocated by praising the fans for creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Alonso's surge to the top of the World Championship standings has been good for Formula One, finally providing the sport with a candidate to wrest the crown from Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.
"For me today, this is the same feeling as winning ... The crowd was hoping for a win, but on the lap-in I could see they were still happy," Alonso said.
"That's five races and five podiums. I've said many times this year that this start to the season is something I would never have expected," he told the post-race news conference.
"We must carry on like this, it's the only way to be happy and have confidence."
The Oviedo-born driver had knocked soccer off the front pages of Spanish newspapers with victories in the previous three races, most notably the memorable duel with seven-times World Champion Schumacher at Imola two weeks ago.
"I think everyone enjoyed the race, the grandstand, the people, and it was a big party," Alonso said.
"I have to say thanks to the people but I think not only me but all of Formula One sport has to say thanks for the atmosphere we had."
Alonso, who made his debut for the Minardi team in 2001 and first impressed a wider audience with a victory for Renault in Hungary in 2003, is reluctant to talk about the Championship nor write off the Ferraris.
"It's difficult with this points system to recover but with two or three retirements it can change completely because there are still 14, 15 races to go," he said. "I think to talk about the Championship is not really interesting."
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Fernando Alonso , Olivier Panis |
| Author | Rex Gowar |
Why Russell was right to be wrong about Bottas after Imola F1 clash
George Russell and Valtteri Bottas' collision at Imola on Sunday prompted fury in the Formula 1 paddock. But Russell's carefully-worded heartfelt statement later, acknowledging that his initial response was wrong, proved the right move
How Verstappen and Hamilton’s Imola clash sets the tone for F1’s 2021 title fight
In Max Verstappen's Formula 1 career to date, he has been cast as the 'pretender', an acknowledged top-line performer without the car to regularly challenge Lewis Hamilton. But that no longer applies in 2021, and the start to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the most telling signal yet of what we can expect from their duel this year
How “overwhelming” McLaren move has given Ricciardo a new verve
Daniel Ricciardo has found a new lease of life at McLaren – a move that’s been years in the making, as he explains to STUART CODLING…
The German legend who raced and beat Nuvolari
Ninety years ago, Rudolf Caracciola became the first non-Italian to win the epic Mille Miglia. We look at how he stacks up to the most famous pre-war ace Tazio Nuvolari, one of the drivers he beat on that day in 1931
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
