Slade enjoyed a very long spell at Woking, having joined McLaren in 1991 and remaining with the team until 2009, during which he worked closely with the two-time world champion in the Spaniard’s one and only season alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Recounting an anecdote involving the Spaniard while speaking to Peter Windsor on his YouTube channel, Slade explained how what was meant to be a gesture of gratitude towards the crew regularly working on Alonso’s car during the season nearly ended up costing them their jobs.

Slade recalled how he had gathered the team at the back of the garage ahead of a race weekend, with Alonso then handing each of them an envelope containing €1,000.

“We were just like: ‘That’s a bit strange. That’s never happened before.’ I think we were just sort of nonplussed, we didn’t really know what to say. So we just said: ‘That’s really kind, thanks. Thanks very much.’ Slade recalled.

However, once then-McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan found out about it, he ordered everyone to return the money immediately, warning that anyone who failed to do so would be sacked.

The former FIA steward recently addressed the topic while appearing on the Stay on Track podcast, offering his take on the contrasting seasons enjoyed by the two drivers.

When expanding on his view of which of the two champions would be most likely to shine if handed the same machinery, the ex-F1 driver leaned towards Alonso, adding: “If I look at those two, I go, if he were given the car, which one would be the one I put my money on? I probably, unfortunately, sadly, say I’d probably go [with] Fernando. Fernando is in a bad car.”