Fernando Alonso has expressed critical views on the current generation of Formula 1 cars. The Spanish driver is unimpressed with the current technical regulations, which were supposed to result in more overtaking and exciting races. He is particularly dissatisfied with the weight and size of the modern vehicles.
In 2022, the latest Formula 1 cars hit the track. The expectation was that these cars would be able to follow each other more closely, leading to more overtaking. Initially, this seemed to be the case, but as the teams further developed their cars, it became increasingly difficult. Fernando Alonso indicates that he will not miss this generation of cars. “The expectation of these rules was that we would drive closer together and that there would be more action on the track, but that didn’t really work out,” says Alonso in Las Vegas. “Maybe the first year a little, but not after that. So I don’t think we’ll really miss these cars.”
Alonso particularly criticizes the weight and size of the current cars. “I definitely find these cars too heavy. They are too big and with the ‘ground effect’ and the current ride heights, we drive in a way that is not nice to control and probably not really fun to watch.” The two-time world champion expects that he will not miss this generation of cars, although he acknowledges that the cars from the next generation will probably be slower. “I don’t think I’ll miss this generation of cars. But probably we’ll go slower next year, and then we might miss them when we’re driving the new cars, because we always want to be as fast as possible.”
New Technical Regulations
In 2026, a new technical regulation will be introduced, with both the chassis and the engine of the cars being adjusted. The FIA hopes to make the cars more agile and the driving experience more pleasant for the drivers. The cars will also become more compact: 200 millimeters shorter, 100 millimeters narrower, and 30 kilograms lighter. With these changes, the FIA is once again trying to make racing more exciting and attractive.
