Fernando Alonso has openly criticized the current state of Formula 1, declaring that “it cannot continue like this,” while he remains undecided about his future in the sport. The two-time world champion has yet to confirm whether he will stay with Aston Martin or continue in F1 beyond this season. Although he initially planned to make a decision around the summer break, Alonso is now willing to keep fans and teams waiting.
In an unexpected development, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem stated at the New Economy Forum on Friday that Alonso, a remarkable champion, should not leave the sport merely due to present conditions. He emphasized that Alonso deserves to exit at a high point rather than being forced out because of poor performance. Sulayem revealed he has asked Alonso what it would take to convince him to stay and what improvements are necessary to boost Aston Martin’s competitiveness.
Aston Martin recently rolled out a major aerodynamic upgrade and Honda introduced a new power unit, but results have fallen short of expectations. Both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll were eliminated in Q1 at the Madrid qualifying session, marking Stroll’s 101st failure to advance past the initial qualifying stage. Reflecting on the situation, Alonso expressed disappointment that with this generation of cars, circuits like Madrid offer very little driver engagement. He noted that significant sections of the track, such as turns 10-12, require almost no skill or input, reducing qualifying to a matter of how much battery energy is available rather than driver ability.
Alonso described how even Aston Martin’s press officer Michael Clayton could navigate those corners flat out without deployment of hybrid energy, highlighting the lack of driver influence in these segments. He stressed that Formula 1 should be about driver skill making the difference, not just energy deployment or “how much sock” a driver has to go faster or slower.
Regarding his talks with the FIA president, Alonso shared that he frequently communicates with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, stressing that the sport cannot afford to wait until 2031 for meaningful improvements. He sees it as his responsibility to share his experience to help accelerate changes, especially in returning corner sections like 10-12 to where pure driver talent determines performance — for example, where someone like Max Verstappen should clearly outperform another like Michael if his skill is superior, rather than the difference being down to battery usage.
Fan Take: This development is crucial for racing fans because Alonso’s candid critique highlights a growing frustration with the current Formula 1 format, which risks diminishing driver skill and excitement. If the sport takes heed and makes the necessary changes sooner, it could preserve the competitive integrity and thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles that keep fans engaged and the sport vibrant.
Source: www.crash.net
