Not to take anything away from the Spanish victims, and I think Alonsos suggestion is a good one, but I agree with your thoughts above, particularly the natural tragedies, but I'm not so sure that sport should be politicised.

This is an official (whatever that means in the context of human loss) time of mourning in Spain.

Fernando is Spanish. Is it not his own will to wish to express mourning in this way? Is it Spanish or Catholic tradition to express mourning in such ways?

As far as I am aware there have come no negative comments from Spanish forum members, so I say that until a tragedy happens in one of our countries (UK for me) just before a race how about people reserve judgement on what is and isn't appropriate behaviour (given the customs and dominant religion of the area)?

apparently was a minutes silence at 11am our time which by the sounds of it included alot of drivers,team owners etc (didnt say if any didnt take part) but well done to those who took part,and well done fernando for organising it

It's not about Alonso, it is a Spanish event, it is correct for a Spanish event to pay its respects to such a recent Spanish tragedy, it was correct for Alonso to prompt them to do this.

This is also why I disagree with djellison's point, it is not proper for F1 to pay tribute to tragedies in general, except in extraordinary circumstances. If it felt the need to mark every tragedy then, with races only once a fortnight, it would very likely be holding a minute's silence before every race, a meaningless gesture. F1 isn't about mourning the ills of the world it is intended as an entertainment, a diversion from current affairs. If the host nation has suffered a tragedy immediately prior to the event, then it should pay its respects, but it shouldn't be expected to broaden that to the wider world.

Hmm, is this the beginning of the era of 3-minute silences?

I can say that genuinely for the first time I am agreeing with one of the most disagreeable characters on this board!

Well said that man!

Exactly. I have never understood why sports thats are in no way connected to a public tragedy feel the need to 'pay respects' to people who have died outside the sports world. It just seems really cheap, tacky, and just a way for the sportsmen/women to look good.

In this case it's understandable since it's a very big story in Spain and that's where they are racing. It was as much the event organising a tribute as Alonso personally deciding something should be done. If they weren't racing in Spain you wouldn't have seen anything.

That started long ago mate.

Whilst I don't disagree with silences in general, I do disagree with this competition that's been going on the last few years with various silences. I remember the UK Queen Mum got 2 minutes, because I remember hiding in the toilets at work so I didn't have to take part in it !!!

I'm positive a few 3 minute silences have taken place.

Some of my jokes are paid tribute with 3 minute silences.

Good one.

I made that point and yet you reminded me why I don't post any more?

Not to drift off topic but you totally missed jesee point, he was'nt aiming at bashing Alonso, he mentioned Alonso (as this is the current topic ) AND OTHER DRIVERS.

How generally if they really wanted to help then there is better and other ways then just a minutes silence.

It has already happened. Just before the British GP 2005 the London bombings took place. I don't remember if they held a minute of silence but PW asked Alonso about his thoughts about it in the press conference.

?

so that's to be held against him now?

What is Fernando to say anything other than that in that event? I'm sure if Jenson or DC asked for anything as mark of respect, none of the drivers would have objected. Fernando had to make the effort this weekend, else do you think any of the other drivers would have said anything different to what Fernando did in 2005?

For heaven's sake...

Speaking of which, I didn't know the drivers were all wearing spanish flags on their helmets; it's a lovely gesture in my opinion, and a great way to show the drivers are united in their respect for the spanish nation's grief. Fernando didn't suggest it, so whoever did (and if in the driver's briefing, I can only imagine it wasn't a Spaniard!) good on them. Fernando must have enjoyed making 20 flag stickers!

just some questions, if anyone knows the answers (not making judgement):
did they have any silence for dc's pilots?
did they have any silence for graham hill and co?
did they have any silence for colin mcrae?

think there was for colin, or atleast tributes. in motorbiking theres normaly a silence or they do a lap or something, notsure if they do much for the average road racer that dies, the big ones get tributes...
speaking of which, i need to see if i can put up the big poster i got of robert dunlop and martin finnigin...

Difference is this tragedy occurred in the country where the race is happening, if the GP had been on when the earthquake happened in China I fully expect there should have been a tribute. Don't just bring up things to drag down someone trying to do something noble.

I don't know if it's noble, it seems a bit reactionary. The moment of silence by the organisers on Friday was nice, but it's "just" a plane crash. I mean if it was full of nuns and orphaned children we could all cry softly, but this is running the risk of turning into a PR thing.

I'm a little surprised there is another minute silence on the grid. I thought the point had been made on Friday to be honest.

James Allen said Alonso had asked for permission but it had been denied, it would have been a bit OTT.

I think you misunderstood my post.