Fernando Alonso believes that rookies' limited running time is seriously hurting their chances in F1 and is desperate for “someone to listen” and address the issue. There is.
It is generally accepted that the challenge of breaking through the F1 grid has become much harder for young drivers in recent years, and the trajectory of the most recent F2 champions proves the point.
Fernando Alonso: Team finds it 'impossible' to prepare young driver
2021 F2 champion Oscar Piastri was forced to sit on the sidelines for a year before getting his chance at McLaren, while his successors Felipe Durgovic and Theo Pulceale lost their place in F1 despite being crowned F2 champions. could not secure a seat.
F1's grid will remain unchanged until the end of 2023 and early 2024, which is highly unusual but reflective of the times, but rookies like Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman will be able to take advantage of this period. This shows that F1 debutants can participate with confidence and perform well. .
However, Alonso said that given budget caps and the packed F1 calendar, it would be “impossible” to have the test teams needed to prepare young drivers like there used to be, meaning team leaders The team has chosen not to take any risks and Alonso wants to confirm the situation as soon as possible. It has been dealt with.
According to RacingNews365.com, Alonso said: “It would be good to have a little more testing done and there are some big teams that can afford to run older cars and maybe set up a program like that for F2 drivers.” he said. .
“[Kimi] Antonelli, I read that you are planning to do a program this season. Some big teams can afford it, but [it is] It has not been properly prepared and tested yet.
Recommended by PlanetF1.com
F1 drivers by age: from oldest to youngest
F1 Team Principals: How long has each team principal been in charge?
“This is the state of the sport at the moment, we have so many races and so many teams.
“They are [teams] Already very stressed with budget caps and all the personnel traveling all over the world for these 24 races, we are not going to have a test team like we have in the past to really prepare our young drivers. I think it's pretty impossible to set up.
“And we don't even have winter testing. Even if we put a rookie in the car, the time he would be given would be a day and a half. [of testing] before the world championship begins.
“That probably deters some team bosses from seriously promoting young drivers.
“There are many problems in this sport and we are raising them.” [our] Sometimes I speak out loud.But if possible, someone [will] listen. “
Two-time world champion Alonso is 42 years old and statistically the most experienced F1 driver of all time, but he is at the other end of the scale as he continues to prove that age is just a number. and his Aston Martin team want to sign him. New contract from 2024 onwards.
Read next: Fernando Alonso hints at retirement from F1, reveals Mercedes-style plans
