Resurfaced clip shows Fernando Alonso grabbed by fan in scary Mexico GP moment

Resurfaced 2023 footage shows Fernando Alonso staying calm and smiling as an overzealous fan jumped on him at a Mexico GP promo event

Footage of Fernando Alonso being seemingly unfazed as he was jumped on by an eager fan during a Hugo Boss promotional event in 2023 has resurfaced ahead of the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix.

The two-time champion was throwing hats into a crowd of Mexican Formula 1 fans as a man broke through a barrier and threw himself onto the Aston Martin driver. The Spaniard was able to maintain his balance and surprisingly kept smiling as he looked out at the crowd while the fan wrapped his arms around him in an enthusiastic hug.

Despite the man's actions seemingly not being hostile, security jumped in to prevent any further issue, albeit far too late. The fan was pulled away and there were no further issues.

A video from the crowd of fans has now spread across social media, with the driver being praised for how he dealt with the surprising behaviour.

“Like a BOSS!” read one popular reaction, while another simply said: “What a champ!”

“As Senna said, go for a gap if you see it," a third joked.

Not everyone was amused by what could have been a dangerous interaction, with his security for the event coming under criticism.

"Great reaction from Fernando but questionable timing & anticipation from security. It’s a relief that the fan only wanted a hug," read one comment. “People like that ruin it for everyone,” another added, while one summed up the safety concern bluntly: “How are people not seeing how inappropriate and unacceptable this is.”

Security surrounding the 2023 Mexico Grand Prix was a point of conversation that year, with F1 limiting the number of passes available for access to the paddock after a number of issues the year before. To encourage better behaviour around the track over the weekend, a number of billboards were erected around Mexico City, asking fans to respect then-Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.

"I think it's important that we give this message, because I think the media likes to create this sort of rivalry outside the track," the driver said at the time. "Let's show that we are the most educated fans in the world. We need to live up to who we are and show how great we are as a country and culture."

His team-mate at the time, Max Verstappen, also commented on the behaviour.

"I feel safe here and I have received a great welcome - as always actually.

"In general, the behaviour of the fans could be better in some places, but this way it's just a bit easier for me to move around."

Pierre Gasly felt like he wasn't being respected during the 2022 race weekend in Mexico, with one fan attempting to unzip his backpack. He admitted he didn't want to leave his team's hospitality.

“I think letting people in is fine, but it’s true that I feel like some guests sometimes are not really respecting the space that we need,” he said. “People coming in garages before qualifying and asking for pictures when they are not even from our team.

"We are working here and obviously we give time for the fans when we can. [But] this weekend I didn’t dare come out of the hospitality because otherwise you just know that you get mobbed and sometimes it gets quite hectic.”