Alonso Criticizes F1 Cars That Demand 'Slow to Go Fast' Driving
The short version
- Alonso says F1 is the only motorsport series where drivers must drive slowly to go fast
- He criticized the effect of current rules on circuits including Silverstone, Spa and Suzuka
- He proposed lowering peak battery power for longer energy deployment
- Alonso remains in ongoing talks with Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed Ben Sulayem
- He plans to stay with Aston Martin in a driving or non-driving role
The Aston Martin driver says current Formula 1 regulations remove driving instinct and that several classic circuits have been compromised this season.
Fernando Alonso has renewed his criticism of Formula 1's current generation of cars, saying the sport is unique in requiring drivers to hold back in order to set fast laps. Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Aston Martin driver repeated concerns he first raised earlier in the season in Australia, Barcelona and Madrid.
Alonso said the cars leave too little room for instinct, with braking points, throttle application and corner approach largely determined by engineering, simulation and pre-planned settings. He contrasted that with karting, rally cars, the Aston Martin Valkyrie he drove at Paul Ricard in June, and historic F1 machinery he ran at Barcelona in September, where pushing harder each lap produces faster times.
The two-time champion said drivers arriving from junior categories have to unlearn the attacking style built over their careers. He added that several circuits, including Silverstone, Spa and Suzuka's 130R corner, have suffered under the current rules, while races at Monaco, Budapest and possibly Austria were stronger.
On solutions, Alonso suggested reducing peak battery power in favor of sustained deployment, arguing the current acceleration profile forces odd lift-and-coast approaches into corners. He welcomed the planned shift to a 60/40 power ratio but believes more changes are needed, and said his discussions with F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem remain ongoing.
Alonso said he agrees with Domenicali that the sport is healthy commercially, citing the Miami Grand Prix as an event he attends with his family and hopes to enjoy as a spectator one day. He added that he intends to stay involved with Aston Martin whether or not he is driving, saying Formula 1 remains his life.
