It was an amusing case of mistaken identity for world champion and 2011 series leader Sebastian Vettel.
As flight MH388 touched down in Shanghai from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, a plethora of F1 faces waited for officials to welcome them to China.
One customs official spotted blonde-haired German Vettel and, according to Bild newspaper, exclaimed: "Fernando! Fernando Alonso!"
His Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, waiting in line behind Vettel, told the 23-year-old: "Go on Fernando, it’s your turn."
Vettel can achieve a rare hat-trick of F1 wins this Sunday, and - dating back to late 2010 - victory in China would make him a five-time consecutive race winner.
"I am not counting," he insisted. "I take it as it comes. But, clearly, to defend my title I have to win as much as I can. That’s the goal, and the sooner the better."