One or More of Us Will Join Alonso in the Future: Vettel

When the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came to a close, so too did the F1 career of Fernando Alonso. Sadly, it was not a fairytale ending for the Spaniard as he finished just outside the points. However, to commemorate his contribution to the sport, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton drove in tandem with him in a makeshift guard of honour. When they got to the main straight, the three began to perform donuts.

Later on, all three drivers spoke about their little demonstration in front of the adoring fans.

Alonso said, “It was a good in-lap, it was improvised a little bit because it was not planned in advance. They did donuts in Turn 8 and Turn 11 so I caught up to the leaders and then one car was on the left and one on the right. They kept going like this until the start-finish line so I’m really thankful to them, for the nice gesture. It was nice to see the chequered flag and to try my best as I was very close to the points with the two Haas’ ahead.”

“I still need a couple of days to digest everything. There were a lot of things that were prepared for me with the team, with Liberty, with Formula One. But I didn’t have any time for myself, I always see of the phone, 100s and 100s of messages. I sit down on a chair and someone knocks on the door asking me to see another new person.”

Vettel said, “Obviously, Lewis won the race, it’s Lewis’ year. Even if it is tough, you need to accept that. I was trying to gesticulate inside the car, ‘Well done’, I was asking him, ‘Let’s do some donuts together’. I’m not sure in Turn 8 he understood because I nearly ran him off the road. At the finish line, we all had the same thought and it was nice when Fernando joined us. It’s been a tough time for him but I don’t think anyone ever doubted his talent. It will be interesting to see what he is upto in the next years and maybe one or more of us will join him.”

Finally, Hamilton said, “Alonso, he will be missed. I remember watching him before I first served in Formula One. The excitement of him as a driver. I remember watching him, thinking, ‘I think I can beat him! I think I can compete with him. It’s crazy because if you think it and dream it and believe it enough, it can happen. The next thing I know, I’m sitting in the same team as him and I’m racing in the same series as him”