Fernando Alonso & His Relationship With Cards
I'm sure we're all familar with the cards on the back of Fernando's Vegas GP helmet by now, but did you know his relationship with cards goes a lot deeper?
I. Magic Tricks
You've probably seen or heard someone at least mention Fernando's propensity for card tricks. As far as I can tell he was doing them(publically) as far back as 2003 all the way to as recently as 2018. Even once performing a card trick, with a condom and a teddy bear(!??!?!??!!), in front of Valentino Rossi who said "How was that possible?"(x)
But how did this start? According to James Allen, "Fernando admits to having been heavily influenced by his grandfather, a mercurial figure, who taught him magic and card tricks, still one of his passions away from the race track."(x) And I'm not sure the validity of this one, because I couldn't find an actual source, but apparently he once said: "My parents are responsible for the two things I like doing most - driving and magic tricks. They bought me my first go-kart and a magician's kit."
In several interviews he described it as his hobby off track, and that he loved learning new tricks and surprising others in the garage with them! So clearly cards are pretty important to him both as a hobby but also to who he is as a person since they've been with him just as long as racing has.
II. Card Symbolism in His Helmets
This is the reason I originally made this post, but I thought I should also explain the origins of his card fascination first. As I said, we probably all remember the cards on the back of his helmet in Vegas, but did you know that wasn't the first time he had cards on the back of his helmet?
From 2008-2013, he used to have a pair of cards on the back of his helmets. The symbolisms of the cards themselves as well as the evolution of their design is really fascinating to me! Even more so with the recent development of the card choice in 2023.
Fernando said he wanted to reference his two titles in some way on the back of his helmet and after his friend sent him several ideas, he decided on having two cards(an ace of clubs and an ace of hearts, sometimes pictured with 05 and 06 on them as well), saying: "I picked the cloverleaf [the ace of clubs - Ed] to give me luck, but the only pity is that it doesn't have four leaves!"(X)
2008.
Here's the very first appearance of the cards! They're displayed flat, with the 05 and 06 clearly visible
2009.
Very similar to 2008, but with a slightly different design, and they're maybe a bit more straight with less shadow?
2010.
This is the first major change! I was sad they didn't have the years on them anymore, but then I realized they're sparkly to match with his signature lightning bolts on the top of the helmet!!
2011.
Honestly I'm still somewhat unsure if this is the actual 2011 helmet? It's pretty difficult to find clear photos of the back of helmets from older seasons. It's easiest to find them on replica sites or auction sites so I'm not 100%? But anyways, I like that this has the championship years on the underside of the cards
2012.
This is when I started getting weirdly emotional about the helmets. Do you see how they've progressed from being a centerpoint to being curled up and sad at the bottom of the helmet? Not listing the year anymore??
2013.
Same thoughts as 2012. And after this season, they cease to exist (just like his ferrari chair in the garage, WOAH CALLBACK), until cards make a reeappearance in his Vegas helmet, albeit in a different form
2013 Monaco(Honorable Mention):
For some reason 2013 helmets were easier to find proper pictures of, so I happened to witness this absolute beauty. The creativity of this helmet genuinely blows me away??? Wanting to keep the card motif, but making sure to incorporate it into the rest of the puzzle piece design?? Mwah! There was another special 2013 helmet but they didn't change the cards at all so I really applaud this one
2023 Las Vegas(The Return of The King):
The magnificent return! But look! The cards are different cards! Instead of being two aces, it's now an ace of hearts, a four of hearts(his driver number of course!) and, the, now iconic, representation of himself as a Joker. I literally could not believe my eyes when this helmet was released and I saw the Joker card, what a fucking silly old man....I really wonder if he felt nostalgic having cards on his helmet again or if he didn't think about it all and was just like, "ah cards because Vegas!!!"
III. Why Does This Matter?
*The rest of the post was factual, this is moreso my personal thoughts on the symbolism of the cards/designs
This post spawned from me recently watching the 2010 Bahrain gp and noticing "hey wait a minute...are those CARDS ON THE BACK OF HIS HELMET!?" It's a really tiny detail that's unfortunately covered up by the HANS device pretty much whenever he's wearing the helmet, so it's really difficult to spot! But I became fascinated with the fact that he had cards on his helmet before that recent helmet, and now here we are!
There's something to me about how the design of the cards evolves over the course of six seasons from the cards being front and center to being smaller, more folded up and closer to the bottom of the helmet. As I said, the 2012-2013 ones genuinely made me depressed because it feels, symbolically, like his hopes for getting another Ace are becoming more and more unlikely and falling away until they eventually fall falt and fade away entirely after 2013 and disappear for basically a decade.
But when they return? They're not the same cards! Instead of representing Fernando's championships, they now represent him as a person, displaying his driver number and his persona of being a Joker!! Though I do think it's interesting he happened to keep the Ace of Hearts, even though he talked more about the Ace of Clubs before. I'm not sure it's actually this deep in reality, but I like to think that it's him not letting his championships(and the lack thereof) define him, but rather letting who he is as a person shine and be the centerpoint instead! But on a sadder note, as @suzuki-ecstar said to me, maybe the Aces aren't there anymore because he's lost all hope for a chance at a third Ace entirely :(
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MEET UP FOR A COFFEE AND A SMILE | C.S
pairing ⟡ bf .ᐟ choi san x gn .ᐟ reader
synopsis ⟡ feeling overwhelmed because of stressful events and built up emotions, your thoughtful boyfriend wants to melt away all of your problems in his own, sweet way.
genre ⟡ fluff, romance, established relationship
warnings ⟡ mentions of dealing with anxiety attack, pet names, juuust a sickening amount of fluff because san is just too cute to handle and i just wanna eat him
wc ⟡ 2.1k
author's note ⟡ my first ever written scenario wooo !! got suddenly struck by a spark of inspiration while listening to one day at a time, that song feels like the warmest hug :,) hope you'll enjoy it!!
letting out a loud sigh, you push the entry's door closed with your hip, too focused on untying your shoelace to bother. today felt like a fever dream, emphasis on 'fever', because you feel like you're dealing with one. plus a terrible, terrible headache, the main cause of your deep frowning.
a groan escapes your lips soon as you straighten your back, the sudden movement making you dizzy. you close your eyes and stay still for a brief moment, your mind being kind enough to remind you of the anxiety attack you dealt with today.
besides your part time job that has been stressing you a lot lately, the cherry on top is the finals season. you had to split yourself in half so you could manage your time for both studying and working. you told yourself that you can do it, your san also has been providing you with his encouraging words, love and attention.
yet today felt like you couldn't bear that struggle anymore, that insufferable weight on your shoulders, which had you locked in your job's place bathroom. you didn't call san. no, you didn't want to worry him, especially knowing he has a busy schedule today.
after a few 'you're fine' and 'it's okay' whispered to yourself and trying to regulate your quick breathing and heart palpitations while feeling fatigued and uneasy, it seemed that you calmed down a bit. but your whole body has been feeling weak the rest of the evening. fortunately, you're home now. away from your job. and you only have one more exam left.
"everything is going to be alright by the end of all of this, jagi, i promise you this. you're doing great. you have me, i got you."
his healing words echo in your ears like sweet honey and you feel the corners of your lips rise and your body slowly relax after you threw yourself on the couch with a loud thump. as if he is connected to you and what's going on inside your mind, you hear your phone ring. you can't help but let out a soft chuckle as you answer the call.
"how do you manage to always do it, sannie?" you sigh, closing your eyes in content.
you hear some fidgeting and a car passing by, signs that he just ended his rehearsals, then his usual, sweet tone but with a tint of worry in his voice.
"baby? do what? are you okay?" you swear you can see his concerned expression just from the way he asked you those questions.
"i'm... yeah. i mean, i feel better now, that's what matters," you mutter, absently playing with the hem of your shirt.
a slight pause before san speaks again, this time clearly distraught. "oh, no, what happened aegiya? want me to come over?"
his cute way of calling you baby makes your heart flutter. you instantly shake your head in denial even if he can't see it.
"no, love, it's late and you probably just finished the dancing practice. that and also the fact that i barely have the energy to talk or exist... i'm so tired, sannie." your drowsy voice made san pout. his chest was suddenly feeling heavy and all he wanted to do was to offer a safe space for you to let everything out. to have his arms tightly wrapped around you, to pamper your face with his affectionate kisses. to have your head laying on his shoulder or chest just the way you like it, because his warmth and presence feel like home to you.
but he despises pushing your boundaries. even if he believes the best thing to do right now is being next to you, it does not match with your needs at the moment. and he will always listen to you over his distressed state and his anxious overthinking. what is truly important to both of you is, at the end of the day, to find each other's tender embrace, to be ready to face the worst of this world together.
with a low exhale, san gets inside the car, in the backseat while waiting for mingi.
"i know, angel, i know you are," his comforting voice and words brought tears to your eyes. "okay, i will let you rest. we don't have to talk about this now. but can you promise me one thing? one small, veeery tiny thing?"
you hum, already half asleep on the couch, still dressed in work clothes.
"allow me to be your anchor tomorrow morning. it's finally the weekend, i can come by your place and help you relax, even just a bit. this way we both can rest tonight and start tomorrow fresh."
oh, that's a bold lie. he will definitely not sleep at all because of how worried he is for you. absolutely not. no matter how tight he will hug the plushie you bought him a few months ago, imagining that it's you he's cuddling. but that's a problem for future san.
"mm, of course baby. thank you... for being so understanding," you let out a small yawn. "please rest, yeah?"
"i love you."
"i love you."
both of you speak in the same time and can't help but giggle together, san feeling rather shy at the other end of the call. after a few seconds, he starts humming for you, his feathery singing voice lulling you to sleep. he rests his cheek in his palm while looking at the dark sky through the car's window. a few stars are visible, shining in a way that comforts him. because he is relieved you are at least safe and sound at home and under the same sky as him. and while attentively listening to your steady breathing, he knows everything will be okay. he will always reassure you of that.
the early morning finds you in a deep, peaceful slumber. lucky for you because you didn't have to move, san had a copy of your apartment's keys and used them to get inside as quietly as possible. your catlike curled up position made him close his eyes shut in an almost failed attempt to control his squeal because of how adorable you look. taking off his hood and not leaving you out of his sight, he silently rests himself on the end support of the couch.
you softly huff and open your eyes. a familiar, gentle touch on your forehead makes you shift positions, turning your body towards your lover, arms clinging onto him like you haven't seen him in ages. you hear san's endearing chuckle as your head finds his lap, your cheek nuzzling against the soft material of his sweatpants.
"good morning, jagi." he whispers, leaning over so he can offer you a tender kiss on your temple.
"hi, 'morning," you purr, voice hoarse because you just woke up. "what time is it?"
you manage to move closer to him, hugging his waist and san felt like melting on the spot, right there and then. you are indeed very dangerous for his heart, yet he never wants you to stop causing him so many palpitations.
"it's still early, don't worry. i just couldn't bear leaving you alone anymore," he admits with his well known pout, which causes your lips to curl up into a lazy smile. as much as you love how clingy san is, you appreciate that he offered you the space you needed last night. you knew he wanted to desperately rush here, but he controlled himself. and that makes you forever grateful for his caring nature, putting you above everything.
"thanks for last night, really," you murmur, face resting against the pocket of his hoodie.
"shh, of course. it's the least i could do for you. i'll always try my best to be there when you need me. how are you feeling? and be honest, don't lie to me jagiya," he gently scolds you, knowing you tend to pretend that everything is fine in order not to bother him with your problems. but you promised to each other to try being more open about this, both you and san valuing communication the most.
"i really, really needed this sleep," you choose to tell him about yesterday's happening. "i had an anxiety attack at work, things just got too much for me to handle."
san looks down at you and hums, nodding in an understanding manner as his hand caresses the top of your head. his first, impulsive reaction would be to get all upset and to question you about your lack of calls regarding him, but how was that supposed to help you? the least thing he wants is to make you feel bad or invalidate your feelings. san is more than sure you are capable of handling yourself, you have shown him countless of times how strong and admirable you are. he looks up to you, always. but it's normal to feel helpless sometimes, and he wants to be your comforting mountain, for you to rely on him, to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel when darkness seems to take over. seeing you without that sparkle in your eyes crushes him, aches him more than any physical pain can.
"i'm relieved you're feeling better now. i am so, so proud of you for calming yourself down," it's all he softly says and cuddles you closer in his strong arms. while rocking both of you from left to right, he tells you about his morning plans, which includes you. "i was thinking of bringing back that pretty smile of yours that i aaaabsolutely adore with a cup of coffee, what do you say, hm? we can go get some breakfast as well. then we can spend the rest of the day however you want. how's that sound?"
"very, very nice," you reply, smiling at the thought of enjoying san's presence and spending time with him for a whole day.
"ah, perfect then," he nods happily, patting your hip. "when was the last time you ate?"
you tuck your lips. the sudden silence makes san dramatically gasp, still waiting for a response.
you exhale, trying to remember. "yesterday...? yesterday at lunch." you see him with the corner of your eye starting to shake his head, all sulky.
"no, no, my dearest right here needs to eat," he says and immediately begins to cover your face with his soft kisses, receiving a lot of giggles from you. his warm, minty breath tickles your cheeks and makes you squirm in his hug, trying to escape from his pampering but secretly enjoying it. his dimpled smile softens you, and you find yourself getting up with a sudden urge to kiss him.
with your hands gently cupping his face, you lean forward and press your lips against his, the unforeseen action causing san's eyes to widen before allowing himself to get weak under your loving touch. his arms tighten around your waist as he shyly kisses you back, suppressing a lot of happy giggles while smiling in between the kisses.
"i brought," peck "you," peck "one of my hoodies," one last final peck from you and this time san lets out the cutest laugh, his eyes closing and turning into that crescent moon shapes you love to see. "you're so cute, jagi."
"i think we both know who is the cuter one here," you confidently say, not holding yourself back from kissing the tip of his nose. he is quick to reciprocate your affection, copying your gesture which made your nose scrunch and his heart flip.
"mhm, you're right, it's you!" he gives you a charming wink then gets up from the couch when he senses that you are about to contradict him. gazing at you from this angle, with your messy bed hair, clearly not in your most comfortable clothing, eyes still a bit drowsy but with that peaceful, small smile on your lips, makes everything worth fighting for. san has so much love for you and will never get tired of showering you in it, because you deserve it.
noticing a cardboard box on your kitchen counter with two cups of coffee in it, your hopeful question pulls him out of the trance he found himself into. "you got the coffee already?"
your lover offers you a compassionate smile as he nods his head. "your favorite."
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