Sepang, 22 March

A gesture, a thought. Fernando Alonso had already hinted at it on Twitter yesterday: racing at Sepang is now more difficult for everyone. Marco Simoncelli passed away last 23rd October, here at Turn 11 of the Sepang circuit.

Today, they went to visit the spot - Fernando, Felipe and their physios, Matteo Orsi and Edoardo Bendinelli, along with Massimo Rivola, Massimo Balocchi and Roberta Vallorosi, representing the entire Scuderia, including those who like Stefano Domenicali, currently flying to Sepang, would have wanted to be here in person to demonstrate the affection they had for Marco, a rider who was a great talent, but above all was an amazing guy. Felipe and Fernando brought a pit board with them with a message for the rider from Cattolica: “Sic, always with us” it read. “From now on, coming here will never be the same again as it will always make one think of Marco,” said Fernando.

“I think the Ferrari family and all Italians who love sport and motorcycling will remember him always. His death was something one could never have expected. We will remember him always and he will always be a hero to us.” “We wanted to go to Turn 11 to pay a tribute to Marco’s memory,” added Felipe. “I think it was the least we could do for him, for his family and for all his fans. I think that all weekend long, we will drive here with thoughts of Marco.”