Greenbkk.com Fernando Alonso | Fernando celebrates his 30th birthday

Fernando celebrates his 30th birthday

2/8/2011

Fernando Alonso celebrated his 30th birthday in Hungary where Ferrari prepared a major celebration for the two-time champion who, curiously, also celebrates 30 races with the Scuderia.

The Ferrari team congratulated its driver, Fernando Alonso, on the occasion of the Spaniard's 30th birthday, with a simple ceremony at the Italian group's garage at the Hungaroring, where the Hungarian GP will be run on Sunday.

“30 anni. 30 GP. Auguri Fer” (“30 Years. 30 GPs. Congratulations Fer”) read the panel which welcomed Fernando to the garage. Photos were taken under the sign with his entire team.

This afternoon, after the second free practice session, Ferrari is expected to organize a private event for the Spaniard from which the press will be barred, though the team has agreed to upload a picture, and perhaps a video clip, to its webpage.

Unexpected surprise

Fernando Alonso received an unexpected visit from Formula 1 “Supremo” Bernie Ecclestone while he was attending to the press at the Italian organization’s facilities. Ecclestone publicly congratulated him on his 30th birthday.

During the Q&A time for the Spaniard, Ecclestone entered Ferrari's hospitality area and, hidden among the cameras, asked for a microphone. “Is it your birthday today?” he asked Alonso in English, who joked with the F1 patron: “Now it’s time for questions in Spanish,” as those in attendance laughed. “Well, congratulations,” the Englishman responded.

Alonso thanked him for the gesture, along with many others he has received, as he looked forward to the private event Ferrari had in store for him.

During Alonso’s press conference a journalist from Valencian television’s Channel 9 publicly gave him an envelope for him to open. At first leery, the Spaniard proceeded to open it, revealing a postcard of congratulations, featuring mobile images, from his teammate Felipe Massa and his friend Mark Webber (Red Bull).

“Now I’m 30 and I’m sure that I will celebrate 35 right here where I am, with Ferrari, and then we’ll see. I have to feel good physically and mentally in order to extend the contract beyond 2016. If I see that I'm a bit tired, or I am not going to perform at 100%, I'd better pack it up. Now we are going to go all out these five years,” the Spaniard explained.

Credit: Fernando Alonso (www.fernandoalonso.com)