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The bizarre story of how Fernando Alonso nearly ended up as the Pope’s chauffeur
A truly bizarre story about Fernando Alonso and the Pope has been revealed.
A remarkable turn of events could have seen two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso drive the Pope back in 2011.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain 15 years ago it was briefly suggested that Alonso could act as his designated driver of the Popemobile.
However, the proposal, which was revealed by Yago de la Cierva, the coordinator of papal trips to Spain, was quickly shot down.
“In 2011 we asked expressly if the papamobile could be driven by Fernando Alonso,” de la Cierva said: “They shouted in the sky and told us, no way!
“I defended that idea and said ‘I think he knows how to drive, I mean, I think the Pope is not in danger’. But [they replied] ‘no, it has to be a national policeman’, and he was a national policeman.”
De le Cierva was speaking as Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Madrid, Barcelona and two of the Canary Islands in June.
In theory it could have been possible as F1 was observing its summer shutdown period when Pope Benedict XVI made the trip to Spain between 18-21 August.
Alonso was in his fourth season as a Ferrari driver at the time. He won one race in 2011, the British Grand Prix, and finished fourth in the world championship.
The campaign was sandwiched by near title-misses for Alonso, who agonisingly lost out to Sebastian Vettel in both 2010 and 2012.
Alonso remains Spain’s most successful F1 driver, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.
The 44-year-old from Oviedo has amassed a total of 32 career victories and over 100 podium finishes, but has not graced the top step since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.
Alonso is enduring a frustrating start to 2026 with Aston Martin and Honda making a torrid start to their new works partnership.
The Spaniard has reached the chequered flag just once in the opening three races, finishing a lap down in 18th at the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso is out of contract at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether he will continue in F1, or call time on his legendary career.
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A truly bizarre story about Fernando Alonso and the Pope has been revealed.
A remarkable turn of events could have seen two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso drive the Pope back in 2011.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain 15 years ago it was briefly suggested that Alonso could act as his designated driver of the Popemobile.
However, the proposal, which was revealed by Yago de la Cierva, the coordinator of papal trips to Spain, was quickly shot down.
“In 2011 we asked expressly if the papamobile could be driven by Fernando Alonso,” de la Cierva said: “They shouted in the sky and told us, no way!
“I defended that idea and said ‘I think he knows how to drive, I mean, I think the Pope is not in danger’. But [they replied] ‘no, it has to be a national policeman’, and he was a national policeman.”
De le Cierva was speaking as Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Madrid, Barcelona and two of the Canary Islands in June.
In theory it could have been possible as F1 was observing its summer shutdown period when Pope Benedict XVI made the trip to Spain between 18-21 August.
Alonso was in his fourth season as a Ferrari driver at the time. He won one race in 2011, the British Grand Prix, and finished fourth in the world championship.
The campaign was sandwiched by near title-misses for Alonso, who agonisingly lost out to Sebastian Vettel in both 2010 and 2012.
Alonso remains Spain’s most successful F1 driver, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.
The 44-year-old from Oviedo has amassed a total of 32 career victories and over 100 podium finishes, but has not graced the top step since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.
Alonso is enduring a frustrating start to 2026 with Aston Martin and Honda making a torrid start to their new works partnership.
The Spaniard has reached the chequered flag just once in the opening three races, finishing a lap down in 18th at the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso is out of contract at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether he will continue in F1, or call time on his legendary career.
A remarkable turn of events could have seen two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso drive the Pope back in 2011.
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain 15 years ago it was briefly suggested that Alonso could act as his designated driver of the Popemobile.
However, the proposal, which was revealed by Yago de la Cierva, the coordinator of papal trips to Spain, was quickly shot down.
“In 2011 we asked expressly if the papamobile could be driven by Fernando Alonso,” de la Cierva said: “They shouted in the sky and told us, no way!
“I defended that idea and said ‘I think he knows how to drive, I mean, I think the Pope is not in danger’. But [they replied] ‘no, it has to be a national policeman’, and he was a national policeman.”
De le Cierva was speaking as Pope Leo XIV prepares to visit Madrid, Barcelona and two of the Canary Islands in June.
In theory it could have been possible as F1 was observing its summer shutdown period when Pope Benedict XVI made the trip to Spain between 18-21 August.
Alonso was in his fourth season as a Ferrari driver at the time. He won one race in 2011, the British Grand Prix, and finished fourth in the world championship.
The campaign was sandwiched by near title-misses for Alonso, who agonisingly lost out to Sebastian Vettel in both 2010 and 2012.
Alonso remains Spain’s most successful F1 driver, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.
The 44-year-old from Oviedo has amassed a total of 32 career victories and over 100 podium finishes, but has not graced the top step since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.
Alonso is enduring a frustrating start to 2026 with Aston Martin and Honda making a torrid start to their new works partnership.
The Spaniard has reached the chequered flag just once in the opening three races, finishing a lap down in 18th at the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso is out of contract at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether he will continue in F1, or call time on his legendary career.
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