A proposal to allow Fernando Alonso to drive the Pope through Madrid was rejected 15 years ago, it has been revealed.
When Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Madrid for World Youth Day in August 2011, organisers had an unconventional suggestion for who should pilot the papal vehicle through the Spanish capital's streets.
They theorised that Alonso should be handed the task.
The proposal, revealed by Yago de la Cierva, coordinator of papal trips to Spain, was met with immediate resistance from Vatican officials.
"In 2011, we specifically asked if Fernando Alonso could drive the Popemobile. They were outraged and told us, 'Absolutely not!'" de la Cierva recalled.
The suggestion held a certain logic from the organisers' perspective - Alonso, then racing for Ferrari in Formula 1, was at the height of his popularity in Spain.
Despite a sub-par car in 2011, he delivered 10 podium finishes and secured victory at the British Grand Prix, eventually finishing fourth in the championship with 257 points.
The visit from the Pope also occurred during the summer break, one week before the season would resume at Spa-Francorchamps.
De la Cierva attempted to make the case for the two-time world champion's suitability behind the wheel.
"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 responded] 'no, it has to be a national police officer,' and it was a national police officer."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Nick Golding and Sam Coop as they dissect the biggest talking points in the world of Formula 1! In this week's episode, the start of the FIA's meetings over the new regulations is discussed, as is whether F1 would miss Max Verstappen.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!