Between the lines at the Russian Grand Prix

The F1’s official FIA Press Conferences are the traditional home of ‘for sure’, ‘the team’s done an amazing job’ and ‘we’re investigating that’, but what lies behind the platitudes? F1i reckons it has the answer…

Thursday 8 October 2015 – Drivers’ Press Conference Russia

Fernando Alonso

The Question: Obviously the big talking point were the radio messages during the race in Japan. Did you think they were going to remain private and what kind of reaction have you had from Honda?

What Fernando said:

Yeah, of course. Obviously we have been all season very positive, about the team and about the car, we faced some difficult times, some tough times, all the team and what you talk on the radio should remain private because you are talking with your team not publically. I think publically, as I said, we have been very, very positive all the time. You know sometimes it’s normal and understandable, talking to the team, you know the level of frustration and the level of commitment that I have for racing and Jenson has for racing as well, when you are battling and you cannot hold anyone behind and you are losing positions is normal. But as I said, this is a very unique sport, that we have a microphone in our helmet and it goes live on television. Imagine in NBA or football players or something like that what we can find. This is normal and it’s just talking to the team, it’s understandable the frustration with the car.

What he might have meant to say:

Oh Honda are used to it. In Singapore I think I said I thought the engine did actually have a chocolate crankshaft. In Monza I told them we should get a 1992 Civic as it would be quicker and it might come with a travel rug to keep me warm and some Werther’s Original for the journey. Also, it has a radio, so I could listen to Gardeners’ Question Time. I love that Bob Flowerdew, he really knows his onions – quite literally. Anyway, I’m nowhere near as bad as Jenson. In Belgium he said the engine was a f**$!* s%7!box piece of f$&*!£. I least I think that’s what he said. It’s hard to tell as everything he says on the radio sounds like he’s a sweary drunk but there you go.