When Taylor Swift first broke up with long-time boyfriend Joe Alwyn in April, 2023, the public was shocked. When it was suggested that Taylor had overcome her heartbreak in the arms of Fernando Alonso, infamous Formula 1 rookie and 2-time world champion, the public got a serious case of the giggles. Alonso stands at an intimidating 5’7 to Swift’s 5’11, and is 42 years old to Swift’s 34. The entire incident was an episode of gossip magazines searching a little too hard for something to write about, but inspired a ton of fervor within the F1 community. In fact, the race weekend in 2023 after the idea was first floated out featured an endless barrage of TS themed puns, with Dave Croft varying from less than original—“a swift drive from Fernando Alonso—” to outright hilarious—“Fernando Alonso there looking for that ‘Blank Space.’” My personal favorite was, “Fernando Alonso has just gone fourth fastest, like he’s driving a ‘Getaway Car!” This added a little humor to the predictable race in Baku, which ended with a classic one-two podium from the Red Bull team.
Following the release of The Tortured Poets Department, however, the Taylor Swift/Fernando Alonso rumors were revived, finding new life in the lines, “I’m an Aston Martin that you steered straight into the ditch,” in Taylor’s new song, “imgonnagetyouback.” In case it’s not clear, this line caught the attention of F1 fans because Alonso, in fact, drives for Aston Martin. Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that it was the 18th song on the new record, the race number of Lance Stroll (zero-time world champion), Alonso’s teammate in the Aston Martin paddock. Unfortunately, all the rumors, most likely, are for naught, although the Aston Martin F1 marketing team has had a field day creating new content—from showing Alonso sitting in a chair listening to the song, to asking pointed interview questions which Alonso laughs off. While the global superstar has yet to acknowledge that she and Alonso once shared a deep, unending love, the F1 world has had great “pun” with the rumor.