Fernando Alonso’s former race engineer has revealed the surprising story behind a generous gesture that almost cost several McLaren staff their jobs. During the 2007 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Alonso, then competing for McLaren, decided to personally reward every crew member working on his car with an envelope containing €1,000 as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
At the time, Alonso was locked in a tense championship battle with his rookie teammate, Lewis Hamilton. His decision to hand out cash gifts, although well-intentioned, was interpreted by some within the team as an attempt to gain favour among the crew and potentially create division during one of the most politically charged seasons in Formula 1 history. The act quickly drew the ire of McLaren’s management, who demanded that all money be returned immediately.
Mark Slade, Alonso’s race engineer at the time, explained that the driver had approached him before the race weekend, asking for a complete list of everyone involved in maintaining his car — from mechanics to the fuel and tyre specialists. Slade complied without knowing the purpose, only to later discover that Alonso wanted to personally thank them in private before the race. According to Slade, Alonso expressed that he had always liked sharing his success with his crew and wanted to show appreciation for their efforts at McLaren.
The gesture, however, backfired spectacularly. When McLaren management discovered the incident, they were furious, claiming such direct financial rewards breached team policy and could undermine internal harmony. Team director Dave Ryan reportedly stormed into the garage demanding all the envelopes be returned, warning that anyone who failed to hand the money back would face dismissal.
Despite the controversy, Slade recalled Alonso’s sincerity, describing him as humble and genuinely grateful for the team’s support. The situation only added to the growing tension between Alonso and McLaren, eventually contributing to his departure from the team at the end of the 2007 season. What began as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude ultimately became one of the most memorable behind-the-scenes stories of Alonso’s brief but turbulent stint with McLaren.
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