The 2023 Miami Grand Prix did not excel in terms of action on track at the front for the most part, with a final result that also seems to be just as predictable: Red Bulls finishing 1-2, and then followed by Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, gaining another podium for the Silverstone-based team and confirming the second place in Constructors’ Championship.
But the race was not devoid of a twist, given right by the two-time World Champion.
In some phases of the Grand Prix Alonso found himself doing a “solo” race, holding the third position away from the two Red Bulls, leading the race, and with a considerable gap from fourth place driver George Russell.
This circumstance therefore seemed to have left time for the Spaniard to enjoy the race directly from the screens present along the circuit for the grandstands.
On lap 50, right after his teammate Lance Stroll concluded a brilliant overtaking on Williams’ Alex Albon for P13, Alonso in fact intervened with an unexpected radio team, saying:
“Which position is Lance? Great move into 1.”
Photo credit: Aston Martin Cognizant F1 team
Since at that time the Asturian was in a completely different sector of the Miami circuit, it was impossible that he had seen the teammate’s move live, so the team radio had left no doubts about the fact that Alonso had seen that overtake on one of the big screens at the end of the long straight in the middle sector.
During the post-race conference, the two-time World Champion was asked if and how he actually followed the race while driving, Alonso clarified:
“I think this circuit we have big TV screens out of some of the slow-speed corners so it was very easy to follow the race on TV.
“I saw one overtake to the Alpines, or to the Alfa Romeo [it was Albon] and I was just curious which position it was. It was a little bit of an unexpected lonely race for us. We were thinking to have a more difficult race.”
