'Angry' Calls From Fernando Alonso To FIA President Revealed

Friday, 27 October 2023 at 09:00

FIA president Ben Sulayem revealed in his recent interview he sometimes gets angry calls from Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso is the oldest and arguably most experienced driver on the current F1 grid. The Aston Martin is having a strong season in Aston Martin.

After transitioning to Aston Martin from an unsuccessful season in Alpine with five retirements, the two-time World Champion achieved seven podiums and is currently standing fourth in the Drivers' Championship.

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In his recent interview for Spanish newspaper AS, Ben Sulayem praised Alonso for his brains and suggested it is great to have the Spaniard on the F1 grid.

"He’s not just a champion, he’s smart. I’m not saying that others aren’t, but Fernando is a truly intelligent champion, good for the sport."

On the other hand, Sulayem revealed he gets calls from the Aston Martin driver when he gets "angry." While he did not share further details, the FIA president does not seem to mind.

"When he gets angry, he calls me: ‘Boss! President!’. And he says some swear words. But we are drivers, and I understand the frustration of drivers. He is really good at this sport, he talks, he has good ideas and he brings enormous value to the sport.

Alonso is currently standing 130 points ahead of his teammate Lance Stroll in 11th place. His is certainly not a problem when it comes to delivering consistent performances. Sulayem added that the Spaniard is "undeniable,"

"Aside from his speed and the improvement he brings to the team, he is undeniable. Fernando is a true example for young drivers."

The 42-year-old had a short break from the sport in 2019 and 2020 before he returned to race for Alpine for the season 2021. "He was in Formula 1, he left, he came back and he is as strong as ever. That is very complicated, F1 is extreme."