Fernando Alonso: F1's most difficult corners are actually used "to cost the battery"

Fernando Alonso revealed that the problem of probably the most tough corners in Method 1 has modified in 2026 with drivers going from ‘combating for his or her lives’ to ‘harvesting battery’.

It is because of this 12 months’s regulation overhaul, which options modifications to each the chassis and energy unit – the latter changing into extra reliant on electrical energy, which means that battery administration is essential.

A driver could downshift alongside a straight to reap or elevate and coast into corners, which Lewis Hamilton mentioned was beforehand accomplished to only save gas and protect tyre life.

These modifications have been contentious as drivers say it goes towards something they’ve accomplished so far, with opinions all through the grid being cut up.

Alonso subsequently mentioned forward of spherical two of the season this weekend in China: “It’s a completely different problem. That’s the place you place the road, if these vehicles are extra enjoyable or much less enjoyable, and everybody may have their very own opinion as a result of it’s a completely different problem.

“We used to combat for our life in Flip 12 in Bahrain, Flip 11 in Melbourne, Sector 1 in Suzuka, 130R, Flip 7, Flip 8 right here in China.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce

Photograph by: Dom Gibbons / Method 1 by way of Getty Photos

“There have been all the time sure corners that in Method 1 have been difficult the bounds of the physics going by way of these corners, and the motive force had to make use of all the abilities and be courageous in among the moments as nicely.

“Once you put new tyres and also you undergo the nook on the pace that you simply’ve by no means been earlier than in any of the free practices, that problem is gone in a manner. You utilize these corners to cost the battery, not anymore to make the lap time.

“So, it’s a completely different problem, what you face now behind the wheel. Nonetheless enjoyable? Sure, we love racing. Is it the long run? We don’t know.

“However yeah, it’s a completely different problem and since I grew up on the opposite one and I used to be difficult myself within the corners, I in all probability desire the opposite one. However I used to be tremendous fortunate to race in that period and I nonetheless really feel fortunate that I race now, so I like each.”

Aston Martin nonetheless caught “at sq. one”

What fairly probably makes the problem more durable for Alonso, although, is that his Aston Martin staff has endured a horrible begin to the brand new period, with vibrations within the Honda engine inflicting huge issues.

The vibrations have induced repeated battery failures main the staff to have zero spares in Melbourne, the place each drivers failed to complete the race and the scenario is anticipated to be related at Shanghai.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photograph by: Lars Baron / Getty Photos

When requested what a constructive weekend would entail, Alonso replied: “I feel clearly once we are capable of do laps with none points, I feel they’re crucial laps as a result of even now right here with Esteban [Ocon] and Pierre [Gasly], they weren’t optimised for Australia and apparently it was the identical case for everyone.

“They’re, I don’t know, perhaps 10 instances forward of us. In the event that they accomplished 1,000 laps since Barcelona take a look at, we accomplished perhaps 100, so we’re 9 or ten instances behind.

“So, if they’re nonetheless not completely optimised, think about ourselves. We’re at sq. one, so we actually want the laps, we actually want to have the ability to follow and to seek out the window on the automobile and the chassis facet.

“That may clearly be crucial for the weekend, and I will probably be glad if we go away China with a roughly regular free follow, roughly regular quali, accumulating laps and possibly making an attempt the complete race on Sunday, if we’re allowed.”

Images from Chinese language GP – Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari