Alonso: New rules need changing
Fernando Alonso has hit out at Formula 1’s constant rules upheaval and admits he is “concerned” by the plans for 2010 and beyond.
The FIA’s World Council this week announced a series of changes to come into force over the next two seasons, with the decision to decide the world championship by race victories from this year and the introduction of an optional £30 million budget cap from the following season provoking controversy.
The latest regulation changes come on the back of a radical overhaul of the technical framework for this season, with further measures aimed at slashing budgets already agreed between the teams and FIA.
Double world champion Alonso fears further new rules only have to potential to alienate F1’s worldwide following, especially as they have been introduced without consultation with fans or teams.
“I don’t understand the need to change the rules of the sport constantly,” Alonso said on his official website.
“I think these kinds of decisions can only confuse the fans.
“Formula 1 has existed for more than 50 years thanks to the teams, the sponsors, the drivers and, above all, the fans from all over the world – and none of them have been able to put their views to the FIA.”
The Renault star admitted he had particular reservations about the budget cap that will come into force from 2010.
Observers have already voiced fears that the cap – which will allow teams operating inside it to have greater technical freedoms over the squads spending more than the £30m limit – could create a two-tier championship.
Alonso wants the FIA to look at the plans again before they are introduced.
“I am concerned, not so much about the decisions that affect the season that’s about to begin, but especially about those affecting the future of the competition in the coming years,” he said.
“I hope somehow these measures can be reconsidered in the near future.”
The Spaniard’s criticisms echo the views expressed by the Formula One Teams’ Association earlier this week.
FOTA reacted angrily to the “unilateral” manner in which the FIA took its decisions and said it would now study “the new situation” presented by the governing body’s changes closely.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper that the teams want to see rules stability to ensure that Formula 1 remains as straightforward to follow as possible.
“We want a stable regulatory framework, without continuing disruption that would create confusion among teams, fans and sponsors,” he said.
And asked if Ferrari would contemplate withdrawing from the sport in protest, Domenicali said it was important that the teams worked together to put pressure on the FIA so to agree a more favourable rules solution.
“Let’s wait and see,” he said.
“For now it is important for us to convince by force of argument those who think differently from us.”
Meanwhile, the FIA’s decision to break with 59 years of F1 history and award the title to the driver that scores the most wins during the season has met with a largely negative response from some of the sport’s top stars.
With the existing points system only coming into play in the determination of the championship in a tie-break situation, it opens up the possibility that a driver could for instance win five races and crash out of the remaining 12, but still become champion.
Brawn GP ace Rubens Barrichello, the most experienced driver in the sport’s history, believes a winner-takes-all system fails to reward season-long consistency.
“I don’t like this rule much,” he said in an interview with Brazilian television station TV Globo
“The world title should go to the driver who has scored the most points.
“The champion should be the driver who has put in the best performance across the entire season.”
Source: itv.com/f1
Fernando Alonso has hit out at Formula 1’s constant rules upheaval and admits he is “concerned” by the plans for 2010 and beyond.
The FIA’s World Council this week announced a series of changes to come into force over the next two seasons, with the decision to decide the world championship by race victories from this year and the introduction of an optional £30 million budget cap from the following season provoking controversy.
The latest regulation changes come on the back of a radical overhaul of the technical framework for this season, with further measures aimed at slashing budgets already agreed between the teams and FIA.
Double world champion Alonso fears further new rules only have to potential to alienate F1’s worldwide following, especially as they have been introduced without consultation with fans or teams.
“I don’t understand the need to change the rules of the sport constantly,” Alonso said on his official website.
“I think these kinds of decisions can only confuse the fans.
“Formula 1 has existed for more than 50 years thanks to the teams, the sponsors, the drivers and, above all, the fans from all over the world – and none of them have been able to put their views to the FIA.”
The Renault star admitted he had particular reservations about the budget cap that will come into force from 2010.
Observers have already voiced fears that the cap – which will allow teams operating inside it to have greater technical freedoms over the squads spending more than the £30m limit – could create a two-tier championship.
Alonso wants the FIA to look at the plans again before they are introduced.
“I am concerned, not so much about the decisions that affect the season that’s about to begin, but especially about those affecting the future of the competition in the coming years,” he said.
“I hope somehow these measures can be reconsidered in the near future.”
The Spaniard’s criticisms echo the views expressed by the Formula One Teams’ Association earlier this week.
FOTA reacted angrily to the “unilateral” manner in which the FIA took its decisions and said it would now study “the new situation” presented by the governing body’s changes closely.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper that the teams want to see rules stability to ensure that Formula 1 remains as straightforward to follow as possible.
“We want a stable regulatory framework, without continuing disruption that would create confusion among teams, fans and sponsors,” he said.
And asked if Ferrari would contemplate withdrawing from the sport in protest, Domenicali said it was important that the teams worked together to put pressure on the FIA so to agree a more favourable rules solution.
“Let’s wait and see,” he said.
“For now it is important for us to convince by force of argument those who think differently from us.”
Meanwhile, the FIA’s decision to break with 59 years of F1 history and award the title to the driver that scores the most wins during the season has met with a largely negative response from some of the sport’s top stars.
With the existing points system only coming into play in the determination of the championship in a tie-break situation, it opens up the possibility that a driver could for instance win five races and crash out of the remaining 12, but still become champion.
Brawn GP ace Rubens Barrichello, the most experienced driver in the sport’s history, believes a winner-takes-all system fails to reward season-long consistency.
“I don’t like this rule much,” he said in an interview with Brazilian television station TV Globo
“The world title should go to the driver who has scored the most points.
“The champion should be the driver who has put in the best performance across the entire season.”
Source: itv.com/f1
