Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso has delivered yet one more scathing overview of the 2026 F1 rules by claiming no “driver expertise” is required to make overtaking manoeuvres. The 2-time world champion has pointed to “one button” overtakes underneath the brand new guidelines, with vitality deployment essential in 2026.
Introducing a close to 50:50 break up between electrical vitality and inside combustion, the brand new rules have come underneath criticism for delivering what has been dubbed ‘yo-yo’ racing, the place drivers have been ready, or compelled, to alternate a number of overtakes throughout one sequence as a result of differing ranges {of electrical} energy accessible to them.
Such racing has additionally been labelled “synthetic” and likened to one thing out of ‘Mario Kart,’ by drivers resembling Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with veteran Alonso already slamming the most recent technology of F1 automobiles because the worst he is ever pushed after the Monaco GP in June.
Alonso says no driver expertise wanted with 2026 F1 automobilesPhotograph: Race Photos
Photograph: Race Photos
Providing his newest ideas on the 2026 guidelines at Silverstone, the place he completed P18, and the place the Dash Race but once more noticed a few of this ‘yo-yo’ racing, Alonso didn’t maintain again. He informed media: “It relies upon what the followers and the game needs.
“Yesterday I noticed replays of the dash, folks overtaking in the course of the straights with extra battery. So there’s no driver enter or driver expertise wanted to overhaul a automobile in entrance of you.
“You need not outbrake anybody, you need not overtake on the skin, you need not take any threat. You simply press one button, and also you overtake you probably have a greater energy unit than the automobile in entrance.”
With Silverstone a very energy-starved circuit, the F1 circus strikes to a different within the form of Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian GP this week, with Alonso previewing the same problem within the Ardennes hills.
“Clearly, Silverstone and Spa, they’re very trusted on vitality. You can not deploy in all on the straights. Subsequent week, it’s going to be the identical factor. In case you deploy in Spa from Flip 1 to five, it’s finito for the remainder of the lap. So, you want to save a bit of bit there to have deployment from 14 to the bus cease [chicane].
“However in the event you deploy in these two straights, which is the optimum deployment, then there’s one minute, sector two, with no deployment in any respect.
“And with no deployment in any respect, we can’t overlook that this yr now we have considerably much less energy than final yr and fewer energy than F2, that’s the case if you minimize the deployment. So, sure, it’s a problem.”
Fisichella: Alonso within the worst second of his profession
Photograph: Race Photos
The Spaniard’s discontent with the 2026 automobiles will little question tie into Aston Martin’s depressing begin to the season. 9 rounds in, the British group, led by legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, are but to attain some extent, whereas Alonso has been outqualified twice by teammate Lance Stroll – the final time that occurred was all the best way again in Silverstone in 2024.
Regardless of what Newey has described as a “massive step” set to be made at Hungary within the type of upgrades, Alonso is alleged to be within the “worst second of his profession,” based on former Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.
Fisichella informed F1’s Past the Grid: “Truthfully, Fernando is now possibly within the worst second of his profession, he’s 44, he’s combating for the final 4 locations, that’s not good for him. He wants to search out some motivation, and the motivation comes greatest you probably have a superb automobile, in all probability in just a few races they may get the ‘Spec B’ and possibly Fernando can have extra enjoyable.
“I hope so for him. I heard possibly he needs to race even subsequent yr. Completely, [he can’t go out like this] it’s not good to see, within the final two positions, the final row, he doesn’t deserve it, I hope for him to get a greater automobile and an opportunity.”
