Remember that iconic moment when Fernando Alonso turned a Red Bull triumph into his personal comedy show? It happened after the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix – Max Verstappen’s masterful win on the streets of Monte Carlo, his second victory there. As the Red Bull team gathered for their traditional celebratory photo in front of the RB19, beaming with pride after a dominant 1-2 (with Sergio Perez in second? Wait, no – actually Perez had a tough weekend, but the team was ecstatic anyway).

Out of nowhere, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso – who finished a brilliant P3 in his green machine – casually strolled into the frame and plonked himself right in the middle of the Red Bull crew! Grinning ear-to-ear, arms outstretched like he belonged there, Alonso photobombed the shot as if he were the race winner himself. The Red Bull mechanics and staff burst into laughter, Christian Horner looked amused, and Max just shook his head with that classic “what is this guy doing?” smirk.

The photo went mega-viral instantly. Tifosi and neutral fans alike hailed it as peak Alonso banter – the 42-year-old (at the time) Spaniard reminding everyone why he’s the paddock’s eternal cheeky veteran. “El Plan” in full effect: even when you’re on the podium but not on top, steal the spotlight anyway! Social media exploded: memes of Alonso as the “third Red Bull driver,” edits with him holding the trophy, and captions like “When you finish P3 but act like you won Monaco twice.”

Alonso later explained it was all in good fun – he’d just come from his own podium celebrations and saw the Red Bull group posing. “Why not join the party?” he shrugged in interviews. It perfectly captured the respect between rivals: Max and Fernando have massive mutual admiration, often praising each other’s skills, and this light-hearted invasion summed up their friendly rivalry.

Fast-forward to now, in late 2025, and that photobomb remains one of F1’s most wholesome funny moments. Amid all the intense battles, contract dramas, and regulation changes, it’s a reminder of why we love the sport – drivers like Alonso who never take themselves too seriously. He’s given us countless trolls over the years, from radio rants to cheeky podium antics, but crashing Red Bull’s family photo? Chef’s kiss.

As Alonso prepares for what might be his final seasons with Aston Martin (and Adrian Newey onboard for 2026 dreams), moments like this make fans hope he sticks around forever. Because who else would have the audacity – and charm – to photobomb the most dominant team in F1 history? Legend. Absolute legend. 😂👑