Fernando Alonso displayed his trademark wit ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, jokingly telling his home crowd that he would prefer to watch the race from the stands rather than from the seat of his Aston Martin.
The viral moment occurred during the traditional pre-race drivers’ parade at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. As the flatbed truck paused and the crowd erupted in cheers, Alonso stepped off to interact with his supporters. While distributing merchandise to the fans, he quipped to Spanish television: “I’m gonna stay here to watch the race; it’s better than in the car.”
The 44-year-old veteran was forced to start the Grand Prix from the pitlane. This followed a challenging qualifying session that had left him in 22nd position, prompting the Aston Martin team to implement technical adjustments.
During the drivers’ press conference, Alonso reflected on the emotional weight of the weekend, suggesting this could be his final Formula 1 appearance in Barcelona.
“It’s going to be a special weekend, probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1,” he admitted. “So, I want to say thanks to everyone. I will try to enjoy the weekend. I will not be competitive and I will not be too long in the car in qualifying, and in the race, hopefully yes, but not at the pace that we all want. But I want everyone to still enjoy the weekend.”
Reflecting on his long history at the venue, the two-time world champion added, “It has always been a celebration when they come to Barcelona. I think it’s my 23rd Spanish Grand Prix, and all of them have been magical. This last one has to be magical as well.”
While Barcelona will be absent from the 2027 F1 calendar, the venue is slated to return under an alternating contract with Spa-Francorchamps, ensuring the city will host races in 2028, 2030, and 2032.
