‘Miami fans aren’t better than Italian fans,’ Fernando Alonso demands drivers intro every race if F1 believes it is necessary for Miami GP

Fernando Alonso advocates for the same introduction procedures across all races as he doesn't think Miami fans are better than others

‘Miami fans aren’t better than Italian fans,’ Fernando Alonso demands drivers intro every race if F1 believes it is necessary for Miami GP

Fernando Alonso at the Miami GP driver introduction (Credits: Race Fans.net)

The Miami Grand Prix was one of the most highly anticipated events on the Formula One calendar. This year’s event introduced new pre-race festivities, including the iconic USA trademark entrances for the drivers. While some appreciated this move, others criticized it for being too dramatic, and one of those critics was two-time champion Fernando Alonso.

During the post-race drivers’ conference, Fernando Alonso was asked about his views on the pre-race festivities and whether he’d like to see them at more races. He began by expressing his disagreement with how the events were handled, stating, “I’m not a big fan of those kinds of things just before the race,” the Spaniard said.

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The new introductions saw Will.i.am conducting his orchestral rendition of the Formula One title track and music phenomenon LL Cool J announced all twenty drivers onto the circuit. This was done to keep the spectators entertained while they watched their heroes arrive on the track. 

Alonso has made it plain that he does not want such introductions to be limited to Miami and that if Formula One believes it is necessary, they must do so everywhere else. He also stated that he did not believe Miami supporters were better than Italian fans or any other fans worldwide. “I disagree a little bit if we do it, we have to do it everywhere because I don’t think that the Miami fans are better than the Italian fans in Imola or in Spain or in Mexico or in Japan,” he said.

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Fernando Alonso claims that such introduction festivities will ruin the race preparations for the drivers

Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso

The Aston Martin driver felt that these introductions were in the middle of the preparation with the engineers and the strategy meeting. He added that if they had to do it, they needed to remove some other pre-race activities, such as the parade lap. “If we have to do it, I think we need to make everyone follow the same rules and the same show before the race,” he said.

Alonso’s remarks were a reminder that preparation is key, and it’s important to focus on on-track action and provide equal treatment at every race. His fellow podium sitters, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez seemed to mirror the Spaniard’s sentiments and said that they do not want a repeat of this everywhere they go to, as it might ruin their preparations for the race.

Despite criticism of the pre-race festivities, Alonso had a successful race, finishing third and securing his fourth podium. With his consistently strong performances, he is now third in the championship standings, behind the Red Bull duo, who finished one and two in Miami. Alonso has become a familiar face on the podium and will be gunning for his 33rd win soon. F1 heads to Imola after a week, and it needs to be seen how the fans there will be treated. 

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