McLaren Forced Crew to Return Alonso's €1,000 Gifts in 2007

A former McLaren engineer has revealed how Fernando Alonso's generous gesture of giving his crew €1,000 each in 2007 backfired, leading to a stern intervention from team management who threatened to sack anyone who kept the cash. The incident, recounted by Mark Slade, underscores the deep cultural clash between the two-time world champion and the team during one of F1's most turbulent seasons.

Why it matters:

This anecdote goes beyond a simple cash gift; it highlights the fundamental disconnect between Alonso and McLaren that ultimately contributed to their disastrous 2007 season. It reveals a different, more human side of the Spaniard, contrasting with the media narrative of him trying to "buy allegiance," and provides a rare glimpse into the high-stakes political environment inside a top-tier F1 team on the brink of implosion.

The details:

• The Gesture: Ahead of the 2007 European Grand Prix, Alonso asked his race engineer, Mark Slade, to gather his crew. He then presented each member with an envelope containing €1,000, explaining it was a practice from his time at Renault to share his winnings and show appreciation.
• The Reaction: The crew, including veteran team member Tyler Alexander, was reportedly "gobsmacked" and unsure how to react to the unexpected generosity.
• The Management Crackdown: When McLaren's sporting director at the time, Dave Ryan, found out, he was furious. He immediately ordered the crew to return the money, calling the act "completely outrageous" and warning that "anyone that doesn’t hand their money back is going to get sacked."
• The Aftermath: All envelopes were returned to Alonso, who was reportedly told never to do it again. The incident was later framed by some in the media as an attempt by Alonso to buy the loyalty of his mechanics.

Between the lines:

Slade insists the story was not about buying loyalty but rather a simple, old-school act of gratitude that was completely at odds with McLaren's corporate structure. He argues the episode perfectly illustrated the "mismatch" between Alonso and the team, a relationship already frayed by the intense rivalry with Lewis Hamilton and the infamous Spygate scandal. This cultural friction, where a driver's personal gesture was seen as a corporate transgression, was a symptom of the larger dysfunction that defined McLaren's 2007 campaign and led to Alonso's departure after just one season.