Fernando Alonso was in Enstone today to say thanks to his
team-mates.
Under cloudy skies and light drizzle, a Renault Espace pulled
through the gates of the Renault F1 Team's Enstone factory
– with a familiar face at the wheel.
After Sunday evening's festivities in Sao Paulo's spectacular
Café de la Musique, where the youngest double champion
in history congratulated the race team and Michelin not only
on their success but also on the sense of fair play that has
driven their title victory, Fernando was determined to visit
his team-mates in Enstone and say thank you.
The applause were long and heartfelt… and then the
champion took to the stage and spoke:
"Thank you, thank you all very much," he began.
"Really, there is nothing new to say. I just want to
thank everybody, every single person in the team that helped
win these two championships. We have had a very tough season,
and a very close fight with Ferrari. And at the end, you know,
time puts everybody in their place – and we are in P1
because we deserved it more than the others.
"I think there are thousands of people in the Formula
1 teams and of them only one team is champion. In the last
two years, you have proved you are the best. I want to thank
everyone for giving me the possibility to have a winning car
in my hands, and to say I did my best to earn my championships
and your championships as well. We did it."
Cue great applause, before Fernando continued…
"I am now moving on to another team as you know…"
and he paused as a chorus of jovial ‘boos' rained down
on him, then, smiling, continued… "but if I don't
have the possibility to win in the future, then I hope you
win because you are the best."
The room erupted as one, united behind their champion, before
a final team photo with the women and men of Enstone –
in the race shop where his faithful chassis R26-03, the car
which he used in every Grand Prix in 2006, had been lovingly
prepared throughout the season. Fernando held both world championship
trophies aloft as the 540 staff cheered with him – in
celebration of the historic "double double" championship
wins in 2005 and 2006.
Signings followed, a last memento from a champion, before
the Espace disappeared into the Oxfordshire gloom. More celebrations
will come, in his hometown of Oviedo this Sunday then in Viry
next week with his other team-mates. But these are the gestures
that count: the generous spirit of a champion who has given
the utmost of his talent, and now proffers his most heartfelt
thanks.
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