2026 can be an vital 12 months for all of the drivers on the Formulation 1 grid, and that definitely applies to Fernando Alonso because the two-time world champion hopes to have another shot with aggressive equipment. The whole overhaul of the technical laws may, in idea, assist – though it raises query marks as effectively, particularly amongst those that choose old-school racing.
Is Formulation 1 set to turn into extra of a administration race than ever earlier than? And are issues equivalent to downshifting on straights or lifting in qualifying unnatural for drivers?
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“I believe all of the laws have their very own particular issues, and totally different driving strategies are wanted for various vehicles and totally different units of laws. I believe this one is a bit of bit extra dramatic in that regard,” Alonso replied when requested by Motorsport.com.
“A few of the power administration and among the driving that you need to do so as to optimise the power across the lap, and typically even in qualifying, is a bit of bit annoying from a driver standpoint. You need to drive at 100% and I believe now it is advisable assume a bit of bit greater than that.”
That mentioned, Alonso has already gained helpful expertise from different championships in case F1 actually does flip right into a administration race – extra so than in earlier years.
“I have been driving in IndyCar and the primary recreation there’s to save lots of gasoline for 75% of the race. I drove in WEC and the primary function there was the power management as effectively with the hybrid system and the visitors. On the finish of the day, it is simply racing.
“The preliminary feeling is that you just wish to drive flat out and have a special automobile, however F1 went into this path and these hybrid energy models. That requires this sort of power administration, and I believe we’ll get used to it.”
Fernando Alonso’s first Formulation 1 automobile
Photograph by: Sutton Pictures
No method again to ‘the height of Formulation 1 DNA’?
Since making his F1 debut on the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, Alonso has skilled loads of totally different eras, however he doesn’t assume these will ever return of their purest kind.
“I believe we’ll by no means return to the late 90s or early 2000s, the place the vehicles have been mild, quick, the noise of the engine, the whole lot was most likely on the peak of the Formulation 1 DNA,” he mentioned. “Now, we’re transferring extra into a special Formulation 1. I do not know if it’s higher or worse, however totally different for positive.”
The V10 period that Alonso is referring to did, from a driver’s perspective, give him extra satisfaction than the path the game has taken lately.
“I believe it was extra attention-grabbing earlier than, however we have to promote that for the brand new era,” he mentioned. “We can’t say that the vehicles are worse now, however nobody will agree that driving earlier than was worse than driving now. There’s for positive extra adrenaline with the older vehicles, there’s extra sense of driving on the restrict with the outdated vehicles.
“Even after we bounce in a go-kart, that’s most likely the purest motorsport racing you can have. It is good to drive vehicles on the restrict of the physics and issues like that, and never by a sort of effectivity or robotic fashion of driving that it is advisable maximise effectivity.
“There are a few issues which might be attention-grabbing and that we’ll play with a bit of bit, however as I mentioned, I choose to drive with not too many techniques interacting together with your driving fashion or together with your strategy to the corners. Evidently it is advisable overthink a bit of bit whereas driving and that is at all times a danger of getting much less pleasure behind the wheel.”
Fernando Alonso’s newest Formulation 1 automobile
Photograph by: Aston Martin
A broader development in soccer and basketball
In keeping with Alonso, F1 shouldn’t be alone on this. The Spaniard sees modifications to some core ideas mirrored in different sports activities as effectively.
“It is the way in which the world appears to go in the previous couple of many years, not solely motorsport. Every little thing is kind of like that, and I am positive it occurs in lots of different sports activities, soccer, basketball, NBA, no matter. Earlier than, 20 years in the past, possibly it was a man who had a magic evening, and he gained the sport.”
“Now, it is extra about construction and it is advisable have some mechanisms to actually carry out in a basketball recreation. So, the inspiration from somebody is a bit of bit forgotten on this era.”
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