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Fernando Alonso’s former race engineer details the generous act that enraged McLaren bosses.
Fernando Alonso’s former race engineer revealed how the two-time world champion once gifted €1000 in envelopes to each member of the McLaren crew working on his car at the 2007 European Grand Prix, causing uproar among McLaren bosses. Amidst a tense rivalry with teammate Lewis Hamilton, Alonso’s gesture was seen as an attempt to create division within the team. However, McLaren staff were instructed to return the cash or risk being dismissed from the team. Alonso’s race engineer, Mark Slade, recounted how the generous act unfolded, sharing the disbelief and tension it caused within the team. Ultimately, the incident contributed to further strain in the relationship between Alonso and McLaren, leading to his departure at the end of the season.
