Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

The story behind the photo: Alonso hits Massa in Austin

Fernando Alonso’s forceful pass on Felipe Massa in the closing laps of the US Grand Prix was given the thumbs down by Massa, but thumbs up by race stewards. Photographer Jose Mario Dias caught the controversial moment to perfection.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31 and Felipe Massa, Williams FW38 touch wheels

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31 and Felipe Massa, Williams FW38 touch wheels

Jose Mario Dias

But how did those involved see it? Here is their views in their own words...

The driver: Felipe Massa

“If you look on the camera from the top, his overtaking looks amazing. But he was [coming from] far away, he just didn’t brake, I was doing the corner. If I am not there he just passes straight on.

“Even hitting me, he went off the track anyway. I didn’t even try to close the line, he was so far behind, he was not close. Definitely, I think he has very good friends in the stewards, to be honest.”

The other driver: Fernando Alonso

“To get past the Williams you needed to overtake them in different, crazy places – like tight, slow-speed corners, and quite forcefully, and it was tough but hopefully enjoyable for the fans.

“I think that I was side-by-side with him. It's not like I was coming from behind doing any crazy things. I was already side by side, and there was no space for him to turn in.

“I tried to go on the inside, very aggressive, and unfortunately we touched, but both cars continued.”

The team boss: Pat Symonds (Williams)

"The FIA determined it’s a racing incident, which I don’t agree with. You only talk about the incident rather than the consequence of it. So the consequence is not – shouldn’t be – part of the judgement.

“The driver and team managers state their opinions as to what they feel and it’s up to the stewards then to decide. They’ve decided it’s a racing incident.

“I think that Alonso braked so late. Even when he hit Felipe, he still left the track. So having used Felipe as a brake, he still left the track.” 

The shooter: Jose Mario Dias (@josemariodias)

“I was at Turn 14 shooting the back of the cars. I was concentrated on the details, so I was using a long lens (500mm Nikon), with a D4 camera (ISO 200, f7.1, 1/1000sec).

“It was the end of the race, so there were not many photographers around – they had all gone to the podium. I wanted to do some pics that I hadn’t had chance to earlier. When I saw Massa and Alonso getting close, I thought that was a good potential overtaking chance, but I didn’t imagine that they would touch each other.

“I was happy to capture that moment, but I was a bit concerned for Massa – I’m Brazilian myself, so I support him!

“I think in any sport you shoot, you have to understand it well. I shoot only motorsport, so I know how to wait for the moment. When I saw that the two cars were close, I was waiting the moment of the overtake. The fact that they touched was luck.

“I am a freelance photographer, and my base is in the USA. I work with Nelson Piquet Jr in Formula E, with the Action Express team in IMSA and also cover some events for the Brazilian magazine, CAR, which is why I was in Austin.

“I think photos like this one marks history. They tell the moment. In some years, when someone talks about this race, recalls the overtake by Alonso on Massa, this will be the picture that illustrates this story.”

You can find more of Jose's work here.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Haas admits home race point took "a little luck"
Next article Will driver errors prove costly in the scrap for a 2017 Renault F1 seat?

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global