says System 1 drivers now need to drive 50km/h slower in high-speed corners to get probably the most out of the 2026 automobiles.
Assembly brand-new chassis and engine laws, F1 equipment now contains a a lot larger electrical component, which has made power administration preponderant by way of driving.
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F1 racers now want to reap as a lot power as potential beneath deceleration to deploy it on the most opportune second, however there’s little time to achieve by deploying further energy in high-speed corners, relative to lengthy straights.
As Alonso spoke to the press in Bahrain on Friday afternoon, ’s newest feedback had been put to him, with the four-time world champion branding F1’s 2026 automobiles as “System E on steroids” on Thursday.
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Alonso didn’t fairly disagree, although he insisted one ought to await the primary couple of grands prix earlier than drawing conclusions; the Aston Martin driver used the Sakhir circuit’s Flip 12 as a significant instance – a right-hander which theoretically is the monitor’s quickest curve.
“Right here in Bahrain, Flip 12 has traditionally been a really difficult nook,” the Spanish veteran defined. “So that you used to decide on your downforce stage to go Flip 12 simply flat. So that you take away downforce till you’re in Flip 12 simply flat with new tyres after which within the race. So driver talent was decisive issue to go quick in a lap time.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
“Now in Flip 12 we’re like 50km/h slower as a result of we do not need to waste power there and we need to have all on the straights. So to do Flip 12 as a substitute of 260km/h at 200km/h, you’ll be able to drive the automobile – the chef can drive the automobile in Flip 12 at that velocity. However you do not need to waste power since you need to have it on the straights.
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“So I perceive Max’s feedback, as a result of from a driver [point of view] you want to make the distinction within the nook driving these 5km/h quicker, however now you’re dictated by how a lot power your engine could have on the following straight.
“However on the identical time that is System 1 and it has been all the time like that. Now it is the power. Two years in the past when [Verstappen] received all of the races it was the downforce. He may go within the corners at 280km/h and we may go within the corners at 250km/h as a result of we did not have the downforce.
“On the finish of the day, that is System 1. We shut the visor, we go, and this is identical motor racing. Typically we go to the rental kart right here in Bahrain – unimaginable circuit, by the way in which – and you’ve got a whole lot of enjoyable with a rental kart. So we nonetheless love motor racing, we nonetheless love competing, and for the regs I perceive there’s much less enter by the driving expertise. However I feel after three or 4 races perhaps we have now a greater thought.”
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As F1’s most skilled driver in historical past, having debuted on the earth championship again in 2001, Alonso nonetheless misses the equipment from his youth, at a time when drivers largely pushed flat out with little tyre administration in races.
The 2005 and 2006 world champion added: “Undoubtedly on the pure driving, I mentioned final week on the automobile launch that for me the late 90s and the early 2000s can be unbeatable by way of driving adrenaline and pure expertise from a driver perspective, since you need to drive quick on the corners and discover the boundaries of the automobile.”
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