Fernando Alonso is just here so he won’t get fined

F1 driver Fernando Alonso channeled Marshawn Lynch Friday at the Australian Grand Prix

“I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

That short sentence during Media Day at Super Bowl XLIX turned Marshawn Lynch into a household name. The Seattle Seahawks running back began his entire podium session ahead of the big game advising the reporters in front of him that he was just here so he did not get fined, and that they could ask him “all the questions they want to,” but the answer would be the same.

He was there so he would not get fined by the league.

Enter Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso.

Following Friday’s two practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix the Aston Martin driver stopped to talk with the official F1 channel, as is requisite during race weekends. While drivers are not required to talk to the assembled print media following Friday practice sessions, speaking with the official F1 channel is part of their duties.

Alonso was rather … reserved during the discussion and made it clear he would be all season.

“Nothing, and if I learned something I would not tell you,” began Alonso when speaking with Lawrence Barretto, with a smile on his face.

“We come here because it’s mandatory,” said Alonso. “But there is nothing really to talk [about]. We just jump out of the car and, as you said, it will be 24 Fridays like now and you can ask anything, I will not answer.”

Asked by Barretto if he got a “feel” for the car, Alonso simply responded “could be,” before then outlining that he needed to review everything with the team. “I need to review everything now with my team and privately discuss what we did today,” added the driver.

Barretto then asked if there were any problems with the car, and Alonso again was rather reserved with his answer, all with a smile on his face.

“No, we did laps, the car goes, the engine is alive, the brakes are okay, the gearbox is changing gears up and down, so we’re good,” described Alonso.

As for how Alonso’s day went on the track, the Aston Martin driver finished FP1 up in P8, and landed P13 on the timing sheets for FP2.

This is not the first time in recent memory a driver has channeled Lynch. Last year at the Singapore Grand Prix Max Verstappen had a Marshawn moment of his own, after being ordered to perform community service after swearing during the FIA Press Conference ahead of the race. Verstappen was tight-lipped during the FIA Press Conference after qualifying, going as far as to say at one point that he would not elaborate for fear of being fined, and then held an impromptu session with the media outside the room.

We’ll see if Alonso remains as tight-lipped on Fridays throughout the rest of the season.