(Motorsport-Total.com) – “We can’t wait until 2031 to have a real sport again,” says Fernando Alonso, renewing his criticism of the current Formula 1 regulations, which in his opinion take away too much of the driving challenge. According to him, the new track in Madrid offers some special features that, however, do not come into play at all with the current cars.
Read more Alpine: Beating Audi is already an achievement in Madrid
“It is in a way sad to come to such a great track like this with this generation of cars,” says the Aston Martin driver. He especially picks out the corner combination 10 to 12 around the impressive “La Monumental” and describes the problems with a special driving comparison.
“The driving influence is limited to the fact that even Michael could drive through 10-12,” he refers to his press officer Michael Clayton standing next to him, because without battery discharge you simply stay flat on the throttle.
“At some point the electric energy kicks in, and you are fast on the exits. But in Formula 1, or motorsport in general, it should be like this in corners 10-12: If Michael is braver than me, he is faster. If I have the better driving skills, I am faster than him,” says Alonso. “That’s how qualifying should look.”
“But now it’s only about how much SoC (“State of Charge”/battery charge; editor’s note) I have – that determines whether I drive faster or slower,” he criticizes.
Verstappen cannot make the difference
“It can’t be that Michael is faster than Max Verstappen just because he has more battery,” he emphasizes. “Because 10-12 is such an incredible corner section. It has to be a Max Verstappen who makes the difference compared to Michael. And at the moment, that’s simply not possible.”
Read more Günther Steiner with a clear message: Kimi Antonelli belongs to Ferrari
Alonso himself urgently wants to change this situation and therefore talks to Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali every week. “Because Formula 1 cannot continue like this,” he makes clear. “We can’t wait until 2031 to have a real sport again.”
“So I also see it as my responsibility to help them with my experience to do everything in our power to change things like in corner 10-12.”
Alonso fails again in Q1
But Alonso’s own sporting situation is anything but satisfactory for the two-time world champion in Madrid. With 18th place, he once again failed to advance to Q2 and was only faster than the two Cadillacs, even though he missed the hurdle against Williams by less than a tenth of a second.
“I also have a very clear spot in my mind” where he would lose the necessary time. Once again, it is the straights that were the biggest time eaters for the Aston Martin and Honda package. “But that’s just how it is at the moment,” he laments. “Of course, it’s disappointing to be knocked out in Q1 again, even with a good lap on a street circuit.”
“Looking back at Zandvoort: That was our strongest weekend, where we finished ninth on Sunday. We were 20th in qualifying and, I believe, half a second behind Williams. So the fact that we are now only a tenth behind despite our deficit on the straights means that we were very fast in the corners.”
Read more «Driving like Grandma»: This is what the drivers expect for the race in Madrid