Fernando Alonso has launched a staggering attack on Formula 1, insisting it has “lost nearly a decade” of “pure racing” by pushing hybrid technology.
The two-time champion’s remarkable comments on media day ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix came while discussing a possible regulatory tweak to a 60/40 power unit split between internal combustion engines (ICE) and electrification from 2027.
During the most recent Grand Prix in Miami, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that F1 will ditch its 50/50 split in favour of a greater ICE influence.
It comes as a result of widespread criticism of the new power unit regulations, with factors such as superclipping and lift-and-coast having left some drivers infuriated.
While the announcement has been welcomed by some in the paddock, Alonso believes F1 will remain the same until its next regulatory era, during which a return to V8 engines has been earmarked.
Asked if moving to a 60/40 is the right move or if it is simply a case of waiting for the next era, Alonso told select media, including ApexF1News: “Waiting.
“The DNA of these power units will always be the same, and they will always reward going slow in the corners.”
Alonso criticises F1’s 2014 mistake
In Alonso’s eyes, Formula 1 should never have embarked on a journey towards electrification, which began back in 2014 when the turbo-hybrid era was introduced.
The Aston Martin driver insists that “pure racing” has been lost as a result, particularly this season, when varying levels of energy management by drivers have led to some overtaking being deemed “artificial”.
Pushed on the fact the FIA has at least listened to complaints, Alonso responded: “I mean, they always listen.
“The thing is that the world went, or thought it would go, into electrification, and that was considered to be the future.
“That doesn’t apply to racing, you know. Racing is a different animal, and now we go a little bit back to this 60/40 split, and then in the future to less and less [electrification].
“Unfortunately, we have had this period since 2014 with the turbo era, and now even more so, where we have lost nearly a decade — or even more — of pure racing.”
