25 September 2023 , 06:17
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Fernando Alonso has criticised Formula One for broadcasting “out of context” snippets of his communications with his team during the Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso could only finish eighth for Aston Martin in Suzuka as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed another comfortable race win. The veteran driver came across frustrated on the track as he battled with Esteban Ocon following an early pit stop.
“You’ve thrown me to the lions by pitting me that early mate, unbelievable,” he was heard saying to his team over the radio. Referring to Ocon, he later said: “He’s pulling away on the straight, so think of something!”
Alonso did manage to finish above Ocon’s Alpine, but was some 17 seconds adrift of George Russell’s Mercedes in seventh place. And asked about his demeanour on the team radio, the Spaniard was less than impressed with F1’s TV directors, who he accused of making him look angrier than he really was.
“It’s the same, the classic thing, the classic FOM radio, completely out of context,” Alonso said. “I’m not sure exactly what other drivers can say when they are behind a car that is slower and on the straight they are pulling away even when you open the DRS.
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“Maybe the other drivers say ‘I’m okay, I’m happy to be behind’, but I prefer to be motivated to overtake them on track, I was slower even with DRS open, I called for a different strategy, we stopped, we beat them, that’s the way we do it, we beat everyone on track even if the radio is the highlight.”
Later he struck a different tone on social media, writing on X: “Nice race and very good pace from the car today. Japan always leaves me with a smile. Happy with the start and happy that we have been fast. More points for the team and on to the next one in Qatar. Thank you, Japan.”
Fernando Alonso was frustrated with his team's tactics (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)Alonso’s comments in the post-race press conference were also more measured. “It was a good race,” he told reporters. “I think mega start, up to P6 and then we had a good pace in the race. I think we didn’t optimise the strategy, maybe we stopped too soon at the beginning too early.
"Maybe that compromised a little bit the final result. But we were fast and the pace was a little bit better than expected, so I had fun in the car.”
He added: “I think today we had a little bit more than the result shows. I think P6 and definitely P7 was possible after the start. But obviously, the McLarens are a little bit too far ahead at the moment, we need to see. Everyone is working flat out in the factory to bring some new parts before the end of the season, so let’s see what we can bring.”