The message from Fernando Alonso, destroyed, by the death of his friend Gil

Fernando Alonso will always be remembered Gil de Ferran. The former Brazilian driver is his private advisor and a key figure for the Oviedo driver to adapt to the complexity of driving on ovals and competing in legendary races. Indianapolis 500. The Brazilian was the man who guided him in his adaptation to that historic race before his debut in 2017, a debut in which Fernando shined in his own light, leading a large part of the race and fighting for victory until the engine of Honda when his car crashed. Andretti said enough. so, Fernando He woke up sad this Saturday when he received the news of the death of his friend and coach in Indy 500Gil de Ferran.

“I have no words. It is a very sad day. Thank you for the moments we shared, for teaching me with all my heart how to run on ovals and for the countless memories we created together. We will miss you, Gil,” announced Fernando Alonso in a heartfelt message on social networks in honor of the Brazilian.

Alonso’s ‘coach’ in the Indy500 in 2017

“I hope I learn fast. I’m sure I’m in the best possible team. I have Gil de Ferran as coach, I’m sure he will be useful for all these things I need to learn”, said Fernando Alonso before starting his complex pre-Indy500 study period with Gil. Fernando Alonso emphasized how much he had to assimilate to a car completely different from F1 and a unique race full of tricks and traps in front of the American experts.

A month later, the CART champion himself in 2000 and 2001, took his hat off to the Asturian. “For me it’s easy to see that his success in motorsports doesn’t just come from talent. We’ve only been together for a few days, but he’s getting involved, he has a lot of questions, he’s committed to everything. And his work ethic is amazing. And it’s smart. “He is a very intense person, he takes this project seriously.”, Gil stood up by Ferran to Fernando Alonso in 2017, before the Spaniard showed a tremendous level in which he earned the respect of all American fans and drivers.

The apology offered by Gil de Ferran to Alonso

Two years later, Gil De Ferran, now McLaren sports director, showed his humility and human appreciation by addressing a press conference in raptures and near tears after Fernando Alonso’s second attempt at the Indy500. At that time, McLaren could not provide Fernando with a competitive car and the Spaniard did not qualify among the 33 best cars to compete in the American race. So, instead of avoiding the problem, Gil de Ferran set an example by publicly apologizing to Fernando Alonso and emphasizing the driver’s work.

“I want to apologize for not giving you a fast enough car. You drove like the champion you are during these three very tense and difficult days. We couldn’t ask for anything more from you. Sorry, you are a no reliable driver,” he said to Fernando, sitting to his left at that press conference. In 2020, Fernando Alonso again put his trust in McLaren (now as Arrow McLaren SP) to go for the Indy500 in his third attempt after the disaster a year before, again with Gil de Ferran, but this time, the man from Oviedo is not He. there was a fast car to fight for first place.