F1 News: Fernando Alonso Addresses Concerns Plaguing F1 - "Many Things Wrong In The Sport"
Due to the implementation of the budget cap and the reluctance of existing Formula 1 teams to share revenues with newcomers like Andretti Cadillac, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has raised concerns about the diminishing testing opportunities in the sport. This decline over the years is particularly detrimental to new drivers hoping to gain valuable testing experience.
Key Takeaways:
- Fernando Alonso expresses concerns about reduced testing opportunities in Formula 1 due to budget constraints and existing teams' reluctance to share revenues with new entrants like Andretti Cadillac.
- Formula 1 has seen a decline in testing opportunities over the years with the grid shrinking from twelve teams to ten due to increasing restrictions and financial challenges.
- Andretti's bid to join the F1 grid was denied by FOM despite FIA approval, indicating a reluctance to expand the grid. Limited testing affects rookie drivers as teams struggle to afford separate test units amidst budget constraints, hindering proper preparation for young talents.
During the early 2000s, Formula 1 boasted ample testing opportunities with up to twelve teams competing on the grid. However, due to escalating restrictions and financial challenges encountered by teams over time, the number has dwindled to ten.
The scenario has sparked a feeling of reluctance. Despite receiving approval from the FIA, Andretti's official attempt to enter the F1 grid was rejected by the FOM, thus adding fuel to the notion that the grid will remain unchanged in the foreseeable future.
Alonso suggests that with all restrictions, only the wealthy teams can afford to host special testing sessions for their junior drivers. When he was asked by the media if it was a shame that new teams, which may offer opportunities to young drivers, cannot join the sport, he said:
“Maybe yes, but Formula 1 is a tough sport. There are no gifts. There is not much time.
“It will be good to see a little bit more testing happening and there are a couple of the big teams that they can afford to run an old car and set a programme like maybe for F2 drivers.
“[Kimi] Antonelli, I read that he will do a program this season. Some big teams, they can afford that but [it’s] still not proper preparation and testing.
“This is the way the sport is at the moment and we have so many races and the teams.”
Rookie Problems
In the past, each team had a separate test unit, including a separate car, specifically meant for testing. However, with the budget cap in place, those days seem lost in the rearview mirror. Alonso highlights the challenges the teams face in a tight, cost-strapped season. He added:
“They [teams] are so stressed already with the budget cap and all the personnel that travel and around the world for these 24 races that I think it is quite impossible to set up a test team like in the past to really prepare a young driver.
“And we don't even have winter testing, even if you put a rookie on your car, he will have one day and a half before starting a world championship.
“So that probably stops some of the team bosses to really promote a young driver.
“There are many things wrong in the sport and we raise [our] voice sometimes. But hopefully someone [will] listen.”