In 2011, Spain's plan to have Fernando Alonso drive the Pope's Popemobile was vetoed by security officials. Alonso's career, meanwhile, faces challenges reminiscent of his McLaren days.
In a curious twist of fate, Fernando Alonso, the seasoned F1 racer known for his need for speed, was once considered for a rather unique driving position: chauffeur to the Pope. It was back in 2011 when Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain for World Youth Day, and local organizers had the inspired idea of having Alonso take the wheel of the Popemobile.
Yago de la Cierva, the orchestrator of Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Spain, revealed this ambitious plan during a recent press conference. "In all papal trips there are surprises," he noted, "and we wanted this one to include Fernando Alonso driving the Popemobile." Despite the imaginative proposal, the plan hit a roadblock when security officials deemed it unsuitable, insisting that a police officer should handle the task.
While Alonso didn't get the chance to drive the Popemobile, his career on the track continues to face its own set of challenges. His current stint with Aston Martin has been less than smooth, drawing comparisons to his earlier struggles with McLaren. Reflecting on the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Alonso expressed his frustrations, "We have been running without too many issues for the last two weekends. Obviously, in terms of performance, we are at the back. So, yeah, you don’t find any satisfaction when you are not competitive."
Despite the setbacks, Alonso remains optimistic about the future. He cited McLaren's 2023 turnaround as a beacon of hope, suggesting that with time and effort, Aston Martin could also climb up the ranks. "We saw the McLaren in 2023," Alonso recounted, "They were last in the first couple of races, and they eventually were at the front at the end of the year. Maybe that’s too optimistic. That’s a dream scenario."
Alonso's focus is firmly on the future, with expectations that the team can address the current issues. "The season is long," he said, "and if you understand the problems and you fix them, you have plenty of time to do the second part of the year or the last third of the championship in a much better position. That’s what we are working on now."
In the world of F1, where anything can happen, perhaps the story of Alonso and the Popemobile serves as a reminder that surprises are always around the corner, both on and off the track.