Alonso suggests the presence of 'favourites' while Max seeks out supporters.

      "That's why it's gaining attention"

      Fernando Alonso has candidly stated that he has favorites on the track, adding an element of intrigue to the title-deciding race where Max Verstappen might rely on supportive cars behind him as much as on his own speed. L’Equipe stated directly before Sunday’s tense Abu Dhabi event: "Winning alone won't suffice - Max Verstappen requires allies to become the world champion." After securing pole position, Verstappen concurred: "Naturally, I'll aim to win the race. But I also have to keep the championship in mind. So we need a bit of luck regarding what happens behind us." That luck could involve Alonso himself, who seemed to give Verstappen a tow in Q2, similar to the obligation Yuki Tsunoda had. Alonso confirmed, "Yes, I gave him a tow, and I believe it was the one shown on TV, right? That's why it's receiving more attention. But I think I also assisted Oscar (Piastri) in Q1, and Max helped me in Q2 as well." There was no mention of Lando Norris.

      Alonso then grinned slyly when asked why he assists certain competitors but not others. "You aim to find teammates to support each other and gain their favor, right? You're consistently giving them a tow to build some credit for future instances. And if we were competing for the same goal, I'd definitely step aside. However, when they're engaged in a different battle, you want to assist someone in case you need help later." When asked for his title prediction, Alonso humorously replied: "I'll watch it on TV like everyone else." However, the 44-year-old has been in the news for various other reasons throughout the weekend.

      He and his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll did not attend Lewis Hamilton's drivers’ dinner on Thursday, and Alonso also skipped the final GPDA meeting of the year. This led Lando Norris to hold up a photo of Alonso on his phone for the group picture. The FIA, on the other hand, was far less amused when both Aston drivers also failed to appear for a required fan-stage event. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the stewards dismissed the team's justification that the pair was not needed since they did not participate in FP1. The FIA emphasized that fans had waited in the heat, and Article 19 obligations are mandatory. Aston Martin faced a EUR 50,000 fine but suggested a remedy. Alonso and Stroll will now interact with fans personally, distribute signed caps to anyone wearing Aston gear, and even offer two fans a VIP pit lane-and-garage experience with photos. The FIA approved this, even suspending most of the fine.