F1 fans are all saying the same thing about Fernando Alonso after he revealed his Mark Webber ‘mind games’

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Fernando Alonso recently revealed a mental trick he once used to get the better of F1 rival Mark Webber in 2010, which has been hotly debated by F1 fans on social media.

The two-time world champion is no stranger to utilising the mental strength of his on-grid rivals to get the upper hand.

Eddie Jordan called Alonso the master of mind games following one incident with George Russell last season.

The tactic is prevalent across the grid, with Alonso not being the only driver to make use of them in the heat of battle.

Max Verstappen used mind games against Lewis Hamilton during their hotly contested title fight that gripped the 2021 season.

READ MORE: Best moments of Fernando Alonso’s F1 career including first pole, podium, win, title and more

F1 fans think Fernando Alonso took it ‘too far’ with his mind games at the 2010 Korean Grand Prix

After a clip of Alonso talking about a mental trick he used on Webber at the 2010 Korean Grand Prix emerged on social media, F1 fans voiced their opinions on the way in which the Spanish driver managed to throw the championship leader at the time off his game.

One user felt that the mental trick took it a step too far, commenting on X, “Yeah, that’s too far. Maybe he didn’t think Webber would crash, but he did, so he shouldn’t be bragging about it.”

A Reddit user felt like Alonso’s antics made him a perfect fit for the Scuderia, replying, “Alonso and Ferrari were a match made in heaven in all aspects of villainous activity.”

A user on X shared a similar sentiment, commenting under the clip with, “Absolutely Machiavellian. It’s a shame there aren’t any drivers like him these days.”

Webber was leading the championship by 14 points heading into the race weekend in Yeongam, with his DNF and Alonso’s subsequent win turning the tide in the Spaniard’s favour by 11 points.

One X user noted the impact it had on Webber’s season, commenting, “The day Webber lost the championship.”

A Reddit user also highlighted the race as being a turning point, posting, “That crash almost certainly cost Webber the championship. I do wonder how differently he’d be seen as a driver if he’d won.”

Despite the furore over Alonso’s actions, one user felt like the unearthing of his comments to the Australian made the race all the more memorable, writing, “Alonso’s rain mind games and Webber’s crash made Korea 2010 unforgettable!”

The 2010 edition of the Korean Grand Prix was the first of four races held in the country. Webber’s Red Bull teammate, Sebastian Vettel, went on to win the remaining three races of its tenure on the calendar, with the race being cancelled after 2013 due to organisers not wanting to host another Grand Prix.

READ MORE: What Fernando Alonso did in 2007 that ‘damaged’ his F1 reputation for the rest of his career

What did Fernando Alonso say about his mind games with Mark Webber?

In a recent sit-down interview with Jake Humphrey, Alonso revealed what he said to Webber during a red flag period due to the heavy rain.

“It was very wet, aquaplaning everywhere,” Alonso recalled. “We stopped on the grid, and it was Mark Webber first, and I was second.

“I came to the grid and I said to him, ‘You know, the track is really bad. This aquaplaning, it would be a disaster if we restart the race now.’ And I knew that the race was about to restart soon.

“He said that in his mind, the track was worse than what it actually was, and he crashed after the restart. I was trying to use every single thing that was in my pocket on that day to really win a race or keep the championship alive for a little bit longer.”

After Verstappen recently expressed his desire to battle Alonso for a championship, the four-time world champion may want to reconsider following the Spaniard’s admission.