Alonso brands F1 'selfish and fake' compared to 'more pure' motorsports
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has suggested other motorsports are 'purer' than F1 in a stinging criticism despite sitting third in the standings for the 2023 season.
Alonso won back-to-back F1 world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, but left the sport in 2018 to take on other challenges in the world of motorsport. The Spaniard won the Le Mans 24 Hours race twice with Toyota as well as the World Endurance Championship.
He also competed in the IndyCar Series and the Dakar Rally before returning to F1 in 2021 with Alpine. Reflecting on his time away from F1 in an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Alonso said: "Formula One in motorsport is very different to any other category, much more selfish, much more glamorous in a way, but also more fake in another way.
"I think it's more pure motorsport in Le Mans, or Indy or Dakar but yeah, for sure Formula 1 has this appeal, you know, people wanted to attend the races, want to watch it on TV. I was also watching the F1 races on TV, I appreciated a little bit more all of the stuff as a driver I didn't like before.
"The national anthem, the parade lap, having a little bit more access to the media and the cameras. When you are a driver, you hate those moments. But when I was just in my living room, I was missing those moments.
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"If one or two drivers were a little bit more smiling or a little bit more accessible, it was appreciated from home. So when I came back to the sport, I think I took a step more relaxed into those things.
"I'm taking care a little bit more with fans and TV, and these kinds of things because I understand the importance of it and that was able only because I was out of F1 for two years."
Alonso won two F1 world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 (GETTY)Alonso also admitted he regrets not enjoying his two world title wins more, adding: "When I won the two championships back with Renault, my Ferrari time, it was good but you're focused on the next race or next weekend.
"You finish one race, you may win the race and you go to the airport. When you are on the plane, you are thinking about next weekend so you land at home, you text your engineer 'we need to test softer at the rear because the traction was very bad'.
"I think with age and now at this point in my career, the podium of this year, when I watch the race on TV, I seem the happiest on the podium. I was third and two times second. It's because I'm able to enjoy those kind of moments."
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