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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Fernando Alonso shares touching McLaren message during major F1 milestone

Fernando Alonso McLaren Zak Brown F1 Aston Martin Grand Prix IndyCar Sky Sports F1

Fernando Alonso took a poignant trip down memory lane to honour his former team, McLaren, as the Woking outfit celebrates a monumental milestone: its 1000th grand prix.

Despite currently driving for Aston Martin, the two-time Formula 1 champion took part in the celebrations with McLaren, which gathered some of its former drivers along with its current driver line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Speaking on his involvement in McLaren's celebrations, the Spanish driver told Sky Sports F1: "It is an incredible organisation. 1000 grands prix in Formula 1, but not only Formula 1, with endurance racing, with IndyCar."

Alonso went on to applaud the impact of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, who has overseen a resurgence and expansion of the brand's racing portfolio. "I think what Zak also brought to the team is amazing.

"Obviously, I got inspired by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the '90s with that McLaren red and white,” he recalled.

Fernando Alonso reunited with his former team McLaren in Monaco to mark their 1000th Grand Prix 🤝🧡 pic.twitter.com/BkaWKorMV2
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 5, 2026

Decades later, Alonso would wear the famous race suit himself in 2007, and again from 2015 to 2018. Under Brown's leadership, McLaren backed Alonso's bid for motorsport's Triple Crown, fielding him at the Indianapolis 500.

"I had the chance to drive for them in IndyCar, and in Formula 1 two times," Alonso added. “So, yeah, happy to be here, and wishing them the best for the future."

Alonso was joined by drivers such as David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Emerson Fittipaldi, Juan Pablo Montoya and Lewis Hamilton for the celebrations.

The 44-year-old currently drives for the Aston Martin F1 team. As the Silverstone outfit battles against multiple issues on the AMR26, Alonso sits last in the drivers' standings after the first five rounds of the 2026 season with zero points. His team-mate Lance Stroll sits 21st in the championship, also with no points.

Photos from Monaco GP - Friday

61 Formula 1

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Alexander Albon, Williams, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing crash

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Flavio Briatore, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Morgan Gibbs-White

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Tamara Kalinic and Xenia Adonts

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

A general view of the city from the harbour.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Alexandra Leclerc arrives in the paddock.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Fan

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

A general view of the harbour with the Paddock Club.

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Friday

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