Motorsports
Alonso: “Outdated F1 qualifying tests, worst moment of three days”
Fernando Alonso was visibly upset after qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP and called for a change in the way the GP is run in 2024. He said qualifying “used to be the best moment of the three-day race and now it’s the worst.”
On the occasion of the second free practice session in Yas Marina – for the 22nd and final race of the Formula 1 Championship this year – in which Max Verstappen passed the two Mercedes on the way out of the pits, the sports stewards also prohibited this possibility that the drivers can secure a more favorable track position for their fast lap during qualifying tests.
According to Alonso, this means added complexity for drivers, who are forced to wait at the exit of the pits on time and then struggle to find fresh air on their fast laps – free from a car in close proximity in front of them – and within the Route limits remain so that your times are not deleted.
The Spaniard, who has experienced many different qualifying test structures in Formula 1 since 2001, said the current one is now the worst: “The qualification structure is now outdated. This was the best moment of the three days as the cars showed their full potential.
We are driving these very fast cars and now this is the worst moment of the three days. For the teams, for the drivers, for traffic management, for the limits of the track. You go to the marshal because you didn’t respect the time limit in the lap, because you hindered other drivers, laps are deleted. We are all glad that it is over and that it shouldn’t be like this from now on.added the Aston Martin F1 driver.
After the major fiasco of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP with Michael Massi, the FIA, under the leadership of its new president Mihamed bin Sulayem, has become significantly stricter in its strict adherence to the regulations. But Alonso’s voice joins those calling for a change to the qualifying structure from 2024 – along with changes to the structure and running of the sprint races.
As for today’s race (26/11) in Abu Dhabi, after finishing 7th in qualifying, Fernando Alonso is not optimistic that Aston Martin can beat McLaren for 4th place in the constructors’ championship in the final race of the year. After all, McLaren has an 11-point lead in this battle.
“I think tires wear out much more in combat than when driving with fresh air in front of you.explained Alonso. “However, with the differences we have now, it’s not a breath of fresh air. “So I think it’s going to be a very big game for us.
Obviously that is McLaren it is our only goal. Both start ahead of us, so we need a bit of chaos if we want to overtake them. In a normal race they will finish before us and that is not good enough for us.”concluded the 42-year-old.
Source: sport 24
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Revolut, the name sponsor of the Audi Formula 1 team, criticized the exterior design of Ferrari’s other name partner, HP, which carries the blue logo.
Ferrari and HP announced a multi-year title sponsorship agreement almost two years ago. The contract led to visible changes in the appearance of the Italian team’s cars, especially the appearance of the blue elements on the traditional red livery.
Revolut Marketing Director Antoine Le Nel said he thought this design decision was unsuccessful.
“Brand identity is extremely important. At Revolut, design and user experience are very important and everything needs to fit together. No offense, but what HP and Ferrari have done in terms of design is not a good solution. How to paint a red car blue?”
Le Nel also touched upon positive examples of branding in Formula 1, highlighting Mastercard’s collaboration with McLaren as well as the integration of the Google Chrome brand.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Legendary Formula 1 pilot Heinz-Harald Frentzen expressed an unexpected opinion about who will win the championship title in the 2026 season.
Frentzen raced in F1 from 1994 to 2003, competing for five different teams: Sauber, Williams, Jordan, Prost and Arous. But despite countless appearances, he was never at the right place and time to compete for the title.
In the fourth season, Frentzen became vice-champion of the Jordanian team, losing only to teammate Jacques Villeneuve after Michael Schumacher was disqualified in the final standings. This remains his best result in his career.
Just before the start of the 2026 season, as 11 teams prepared to subject their cars to new technical regulations, 58-year-old Frentzen published an unexpected prediction on social media.
Frentzen’s former Jordan teammate Damon Hill asked him at “X” who would win the title in 2026, and Frentzen replied:
“Fernando Alonso.”
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is preparing to start his 23rd season in Formula 1, his fourth with Aston Martin. The team was actively preparing for the 2026 season by investing all the necessary resources in the car and inviting the best experts from Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and other teams. Among the main experts is the legendary engineer Adrian Newey.
Fernando Alonso
— Heinz Harald Frentzen (@frentzen_hh) January 11, 2026
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
Aston Martin pilot Lance Stroll said that the team does not yet have enough cars to be the best team in Formula 1.
The Silverstone team recently hired legendary engineer Adrian Newey as team principal and plans to become a championship contender in the future.
Newey initially joined as technical managing partner, overseeing operations ahead of F1 regulation changes in 2026, but it was announced that he would replace Andy Cowell as team principal at the end of 2025.
It’s an unusual position for Newey, but the team hopes to move on from 2026. Newey and Enrico Cardile are just two of the big names drawn to top-flight Aston Martin.
The team includes two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and experienced Lance Stroll, who is starting his 10th season.
However, at the end of last year, Stroll remained cautious about the team’s future:
“That’s a big question for everyone. Nobody knows what each team will look like in Melbourne at the start of the season.”
Of course, we don’t have all the tools to be a top team and there is no point in hiding behind that, but time will tell how strong we are.
It is exciting for us to move forward with brand new people and structure, and new regulations. “As a team, we are looking forward to the season,” Stroll said.
Source: Sport UA
Ruth Waterhouse is an author and sports journalist who writes for Sportish. She is known for her coverage of various sports events and her insightful analysis of sports-related news. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for detail, she has become a respected voice in the sports community.
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