Ever since he was involved in the famous spy-gate with McLaren back in 2007, Alonso has been marching through the idea that Formula 1 is miles away from being a pure sport, as it is surrounded by great businesses and interests. And the years haven't changed his approach on the series, although he reckons it's all part of F1's charm worldwide.
“It's not just racing; F1 is also very much business and with other interests,” said the 2-time world champion in a recent interview with Spanish sports daily Marca. “It's not a competition, pure and simple. Cars are not equal, the rules are not equal for all. But we know this and accept it because this is perhaps some of the charm of Formula One.”
Speaking of his McLaren days, Bernie Ecclestone recently unveiled in his biography that Alonso tried to blackmail Ron Dennis, CEO and team principal of the British squad back in 2007, into sabotaging Lewis Hamilton's efforts of becoming world champion. These types of allegations had been surfacing in the media at the time, several pointing at the Spaniard for the burst of the whole espionage scandal.
Talking to the media recently, Alonso briefly addressed those rumors, telling reporters that he prefers to “ignore what is said from other countries.”
Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, currently a columnist for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, also expressed his doubts over Ecclestone's unveilings, writing that “you have to wonder if the accusations are true. I cannot imagine that a driver would go that far. I don't want to say too much about it except that I have my doubts.”
Google News