Alonso Speaks Out on F1’s Overtaking Conundrum

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has urged observers to tone down their criticism of the sport following the lackluster racing at the recent Suzuka Grand Prix. The race, which followed a tepid Chinese Grand Prix, was marred by a scarcity of action due to the circuit’s challenging layout and minimal tire degradation, effectively canceling out strategic opportunities.

Alonso Defends Formula 1 Against Overtaking Criticism

In an interview, Alonso argued that the clamor around F1’s lack of overtaking is exaggerated. He pointed out that this year’s F1 cars are still “very far away” from the 2021 generation, which he deemed the worst cars of his career in terms of dirty air.

Alonso reminisced about the simplicity and beauty of races from the 80s, where one stop was often enough to win, and the top three cars could be as far as 45 seconds apart. He suggested that the current quest for more overtaking, more pit stops, and closer competition among teams might be misguided.

Alonso also expressed his belief that the excessive media attention on the series hasn’t helped matters. “I think less media will be my solution,” he added. He attributed the high volume of press conferences, fan forums, social media debriefs, and post-FP2 questioning to the proliferation of talk in the F1 community.

When multiplied by the 20 drivers and team principals, Alonso believes that they are talking too much. He concluded by saying, “This is Formula 1, and we have to love it as it is.