So I guess I'll get the ball rolling on this:
![[Image: 31.gif]](http://graphics.hi5comments.net/graphics/happy-birthday/31.gif)
Feliz cumpleaños, campéon!! Que los próximos 30 años será llena de más felicidad, más éxitos y más títulos :) Ha sido la luz en mi oscuridad, una inspiración para mi y por eso te agradezco...te quiero para siempre!!!
Happy Birthday Fernando! I hope the next 30 years bring you even more happiness, success and championships :) You've been a real inspiration for me and for that I thank you...love you forever!!!
For anyone interested, you can post birthday wishes on the Faster facebook page if you wish to do so...I will be posting that message, if you want me to do one on behalf of the forum I can do that too, maybe just let me know what you guys want it to say
Here's the link for the FB page:
Faster Inside
And here's a link to the la sexta page, where you can post your birthday wishes and the best ones will be selected to be presented to Fernando, just go to the bottom of the page and enter your comment...if anyone wants help translating their message into Spanish let me know, just don't make it too complicated
Felicita a Alonso
The day I turned 30 I was at Silverstone watching Fernando win the 2006 British GP at Stowe corner and he signed my race programme before the race.......the best birthday ever!!!!!!!
Feliz cumpleanos Fernando, the best years are yet to come..........
La Nueva España did an interview with Fernando for his birthday:
Quote:"I feel mature, without the madness that comes with being in your twenties"
The Asturian double world champion talks to La Nueva España for his 30th birthday: "As a person, I am calm, serene, respectful to my neighbours; very normal, without extravagancies"
Now you're thirty, has getting older changed your life?
It means having another point of view. I feel a little more mature, more responsible. Now, I don't have the madness that comes with being in your twenties.
This can be a good time to look back.
When you're thirty, you've got a backstory. At times, I stop to think and try to see the positives of the opportunities that I've had, karting, the lower formulas, F1, my two world titles...Also, I look to the future, projects like the kart track in La Morgal and the driving school I can set up there. And now, the experience of being with Ferrari.
Do you really think that it's more important to drive for Ferrari than to be world champion, like you stated a while ago?
We'll see. I want to win many titles for this team. But for me, people stop me in the streets in Japan, Australia, Canada...and nobody says, "hey, we're going to get a photo taken with Alonso, who won in Silverstone the other day". No. They say that I'm a Ferrari driver. When I'm 50 years old, if they remember me, it will be for having been with this team.
What present would you like to get?
Nothing in particular.
Nothing for your car?
That couldn't be a gift. That has to come from hard work. What's important to me is that my family is well, that I'm well, that everything goes right. And professionally, whatever happens will be for it's own merits.
Do you have a special memory of any birthday gift?
All of the ones that came from my family (were special), but there is one that I will never forget. The last present from my grandmother. We lost her one August. She was already very sick at this point, bed-ridden and she gave me a box of chocolates. I was thrilled with it.
Is a Formula 1 driver afraid of anything?
We all have fears, whether we show them or not. I'm afraid of death, of health problems, of flying when the weather is bad, many things.
You are rich, famous, you drive the best cars, is there anything bad about your job?
With all this, you lose your privacy. You have limos, you're paid well and your life is about going flat-out on circuits, what you have always loved doing. But there are things that other people do that I can't. Going on holidays to certain places, to restaurants. And other things that are incompatible with the life of a sportstar.
You spoke of holidays. The F1 summer break is coming, right after this race. Where will we not find you?
I think that I won't be spending those days in Spain.
Do you move around a lot during the summer or do you stay in the same place?
I move around. I go to various places and I spend a couple of days in each location. If I stay in the same place for a week and a half, very quickly there will be many people who know that I am there. So I move around and start again.
Do you plan your holidays looking for places where you won't be recognised?
Yes, of course I think about that. In order to relax, it's fundamental to be clear and calm.
But that must be difficult.
Not really. There are places in which Formula 1 is not very well known.
What do you think when people criticise you because you don't smile a lot or you're not as nice as people expect?
I don't pay any attention to that. I respect it and get over it. I'm lucky that when someone meets me they get a good impression and afterwards, they spend months repeating that it was a surprise. It happens to me quite often.
Now you live in Spain, an argument against the detractors.
They will find another one quickly. But it's nothing. I've lived in Spain, England and Switzerland. I've lived truthfully and paid all my taxes. In the ten years that I have been doing this, there hasn't nor isn't nor will ever be a problem with my tax obligations. I am very strict about that.
Are you happier now, closer to your family?
I haven't noticed much difference yet because we're in the middle of the season. I suppose that during winter it will be different. Up til now moving back to Asturias hasn't changed much because I still only see very little of my family.
What is Fernando Alonso Díaz like as a citizen?
Very calm, serene. I respect the city, the people, my neighbours. I'm too normal for what people would like, they expect me to do something extravagant just because I'm on the TV.
*I had BIG problems trying to translate this question and I'm pretty sure it's not right and doesn't make a lot of sense but I've done my best with it*
A little while ago, it was yourself that passed the technical revision of one of your cars. It surprised some people.
I don't see why. I'm not going to spend all day locked in my house. If I have played a football match and my car had to pass the ITV (Spanish version of MOT) so my father could accompany me or else I go alone. Nothing happened, I don't have anyone to do these things for me. I still feel like a completely normal guy when I'm away from the circuit
In your teens you were hanging around race tracks; in your twenties as well, now you're here in your thirties, will you still be doing this in your 40s?
No. Well, you never know, but at that age, I don't know if you could give 100% in regards to the physical and mental demands of Formula 1. At 40, I will have another way of life and other priotities.
From where do you get the motivation to give the maximum that you have spoken of throughout all these years?
From the competitiveness that makes us sportsmen. I love to win and despise losing. Victory is the best feeling that I've ever had and defeat, the worst. And such a fine line separates the two that it keeps you hooked.
Last week, Lewis Hamilton said that he wanted to beat you at golf, would you accept the challenge?
Yes, no problem. I'm sure we'll end up playing. If outside Europe, we are both coincidentally at the same hotel, we see each other at breakfast and we have nothing to do, then yes. But we don't have a close enough relationship to plan it.
Why are there so many false rumours about your life?
It doesn't just happen to me. I guess it's normal. When you're so exposed, everybody has something to say about you. Maybe others seek to take advantage of that.
When did you realise that this year's car had problems?
Very early on. When we put new bits on on Fridays and the data wasn't good or bad...just strange.
One year ago, when you were also very far behind in the championship, you said that you would fight for the title. What do you say now?
That Vettel has a very big lead, but we are doing good right now. We still have hope, even though we have no fixed objectives.
Is there any rival in particular that you enjoy competing against?
Yes, Button and Webber. The fights with them are good and they play fair and with respect. They are educated on track.
And the others?
Not so much.
Are you vain?
I go through phases. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Do you like the pictures that are published of you?
I try not to look at them too much.
You are crazy with numbers, have you thought of something to do with your thirty years?
Only that I know that this race will be my thirtieth race with Ferrari. Weird, right?
Your close ones say that you are very strong-headed.
Yes, yes I am. If I believe in something, it's difficult to change my mind, but if they do, I see it through to the end.
Source:
lne.es
And jenni, yes I will pass on the wishes tomorrow...I'm too tired to do it now
Interesting interview - that must have taken ages to translate!!
I didn't know Alonso had moved back to Oviedo, odd, he was much closer to Maranello in Switzerland wasn't he??
(07-30-2011 04:33 PM)maranellored Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting interview - that must have taken ages to translate!!
I didn't know Alonso had moved back to Oviedo, odd, he was much closer to Maranello in Switzerland wasn't he??
I just came across this letter from El Presidente...........
Quote:Dear Fernando,
Here’s wishing you a very happy birthday in the hope that you can celebrate it in style on Sunday in your thirtieth race with Ferrari. Thirty is an important age, as it means you are no longer a youngster. You gave us a bit of a hard time when you were an opponent of ours, but we have always appreciated your talent and your personality. Today, after one and a half years together, we have got to know you better and we have discovered those personal qualities you had kept hidden. It is because of these and not just your skill at the wheel, that our relationship is destined to last a long time. Best wishes once again and thanks for all your efforts and for the way you work with the team, as well as the determination you have shown and the fact that you never give up; just like Ferrari in fact.
Luca Montezemolo
Right it's done, I sent a message through La Sexta and also on facebook...maybe he might see at least one of them
Thanks for posting Montezemelo's letter maranellored, I saw it yesterday but was too lazy to post it myself
Thanks Chrissie
Thanks for sharing, dear Maranellord
Hey dear!!!
Yeah... I missed you too guys!
Hope you are all well! How come this year there aren't any vids and photos from Fernando's birthday? Didn't they do something special this year?
Hey stef, I posted a video in the "Fernando Alonso videos" thread that Ferrari made for him...don't know if that's what you're looking for?
Anything would work. Thank you dear!
I may be able to help out on that one jenni, seeing as how I'm 90% sure I'm going to Hungary next year
You are????? wow! do you want me with you?? I wanna go to a race so desperately!
(I am teasing merely. You don't have to answer that.)
Hahaha, stef it'd be great if you came along...seeing how I'm more than likely going to be going on my own
Seriously though, if you're thinking of going to a race, Hungary is your best bet...it's like €100 for a 3-day grandstand ticket and the accomodation is pretty cheap too
Really??? That is awesome! I was thinking of Spa but I have heard that Hungary (really cheap) along with Turkey.
Alone? You too? Guess what. If I get to go, I am gonna be alone too.
No one else from my friends watched F1 and my family says we don't have enough money. Well, me neither but we only live once and you only get one chance to see Fernando racing live, walking live, talking live... 0___0
