According to Fernando Alonso, it is the size of the cars that prevents the spectacle
For several years, single-seaters have been constantly getting heavier and larger. These two factors are becoming problematic for the spectacle on the track. However, according to Fernando Alonso, it is mainly the size of these cars "that makes things a little more difficult."
The weight of Formula 1 cars continues to increase, with a minimum weight of 798 kg set for 2023, whereas 10 years ago, a single-seater weighed 642 kg. According to Fernando Alonso, both the weight and size should be changed. This way, we could return to the old cars like the ones the Spanish driver experienced at the beginning of his career.
An extraordinary » weight « according to Alonso
For Spanish, the weight has become immense. The weight is extraordinary. Currently, the low-speed performance is not excellent, he said. Then the driver stated that it will be difficult to significantly reduce the weight, as hybrid engines will always be heavier than normal engines, and safety in these cars is also much higher. Indeed, the weight of the components inside the single-seaters is increasingly important, which does not facilitate the reduction of the weight of the single-seaters.
George Russell has also stated that if cars continue to gain weight as is the case, a safety issue could arise in future years.
But for Alonso, we need to take care of the size of the cars
According to the Aston Martin pilot, the size of F1 cars needs to be reconsidered to allow for more entertainment. « “I don’t think reducing the weight would make much of a difference in the show,” the Spanish driver believes.
Then, Fernando Alonso explains the problem with the size of the cars: “I think it is more the size of the car than its weight that makes things a bit more difficult: overtaking, fights in the first corners of the race, it is now difficult to position the car, simply because of its size, not because of its weight.” “Indeed, in Monaco for example, overtaking is almost impossible due to the immense size of the cars. The streets are so narrow that the F1 cars can barely pass side by side. It is therefore difficult to overtake and it has become a real problem in the principality.”
Alonso is quite optimistic
For those who have experienced small and light single-seaters, there is a shock with the cars of recent years. Fernando Alonso does not hide his desire to drive again in Formula 1 cars capable of creating more spectacle and overtaking. « So, I know that there is a certain interest in going in this direction. Let’s see what they can do. It will always be welcome and it’s always more fun to drive lightweight cars. »
