Has Fernando Alonso been firing secret digs at Alpine all weekend at F1 Miami Grand Prix?
The two-time F1 cha🐈mpion has rolled back the years since join꧋ing Aston Martin as a replacement for the retiring Sebastian Vettel, finishing on the podium three times this season already.
But it hasn’t stopped him looking ov💟er his shoulder to tease Alpine, the team where he spent the past tw🦹o years.
“I think I have always been motivated,” 🎀Alonไso said after qualifying in P2 in Miami.
“I ဣhave always been working hard, bu🎃t I probably didn’t have the team believing in my performance, in my ability to set up the car as well, and to move forward.
“And also I nev♒er had a fast car, as I have now. So I think that’s the reason.
“I di𝓀dn’t chaওnge anything but Aston Martin changed everything for me.”
A subtle re💙minde🅺r to Alpine of what they have lost? Perhaps.
On Friday, Alonso🐠’s teasing༺ of his former employers was even clearer.
“The Alpines are fighting🌳 in the fr♒ee practice,” Alonso exclaimed over team radio.
The reply🔜 from his engineer came: “That’s a joke. You were on a flying lap an𒅌d Esteban Ocon didn’t get out of the way.”
Alonso: “Yeah, copy, but the free practice is their🀅 moment so it’s good.”
Alonso has endured ups and downs with many teammates over the years, and last season his♊ relationship with Ocon wa🐠s tumultuous.
After a season of frequent bickering, both drivers were reprimanded by team principal Ottmar Sz🍃afnauer for clashing i💞n the sprint race in Sao Paulo.
James was a s🐎ports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
