Alonso denies sarcastic 'celebration' in Bahrain

Fernando Alonso on Thursday denied his frustration with Ferrari's poor 2014 hit a sarcastic low recently in Bahrain. Hot on the heels of Stefano Domenicali's departure, it now emerges that Alonso punched the air in an apparently sarcastic victory gesture, after the crossing the line just ninth in Bahrain two weeks ago.

It is known that Domenicali's successor Marco Mattiacci will meet the F1 press for the first time on Friday, and team president Luca di Montezemolo has also confirmed Mattiacci's presence in Shanghai. But Alonso on Thursday told reporters he is not sure if he will meet Mattiacci ahead of the Chinese grand prix.

It has been rumoured Alonso, reportedly increasingly frustrated with the situation in his fifth season in red, could be Maranello's next high-profile departure. Asked about the sarcastic victory celebration in Bahrain, the 32-year-old denied it was a swipe at Ferrari's competitive crisis.

"I was saying thanks to the mechanics," he insisted. "They had been working hard after a problem on the engine unit. They did a fantastic job, and when they were on the pitwall saying 'hello', I said 'hello' too," Alonso added.

As for the impending arrival of Mattiacci, Alonso said Domenicali was a "close friend" and denied his departure will have an immediate effect. "We need to accept what Stefano decided. He wasn't in the mood to continue with the feeling of having everything on his shoulders," he explained. "In this race, we will not improve by one second, because Stefano wasn't doing the front wing or the rear wing, so we need to wait and see what we can improve." (GMM)

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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  • Team Aston Martin
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  • Grand Prix 192
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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