Alonso responds to FIA President: "F1 cannot continue this way"
Fernando Alonso has warned that Formula 1 “cannot continue this way” after becoming frustrated by the extent to which the current generation of cars is being shaped by battery management at Madrid’s demanding Madring circuit.
The Aston Martin driver praised the new 5.4km venue, which features several high-speed, high-commitment corners and little room for error. Yet he argued that the track’s most impressive challenges are being diluted because drivers cannot always make the difference through bravery, precision and commitment alone.
Alonso singled out La Monumental, Turn 12, as the clearest example. He questioned how a driver with greater battery charge could be faster through such a corner than a Formula 1 competitor with greater ability or commitment.
“It is sad, in a way, with this generation of cars to come to a very nice circuit like this one, with challenges here and there, like La Monumental corner, Turn 12,” Alonso said. “It cannot be that Michael is faster than Max Verstappen if he has more battery, because Turn 12 is such an incredible corner that Max Verstappen has to be making the difference compared to Michael, and at the moment we can’t.”
His broader criticism was aimed at what qualifying should represent. “If Michael is braver than me, he goes faster. If I have more attributes, I will go faster than him, that’s how we should be qualifying. Now it’s just [depending on] how much [battery charge] I have, I will go faster or slower.”
The comments underline the tension between the technical direction of the cars and the qualities Alonso believes should define Formula 1. The Madring’s unforgiving layout has already made it a significant test of driver confidence, as outlined in our Madring circuit guide, but Alonso feels the cars are preventing that challenge from being fully expressed.
Pressure for earlier change
Formula 1 is already moving towards a 60-40 split between combustion power and electric energy, with the most significant change expected in 2027. Alonso, however, hopes the sport can bring forward its anticipated return to V8 engines rather than wait until the next rules cycle begins in 2031.
His concerns are also tied to Aston Martin’s struggles with Honda’s lack of performance. Alonso said he had discussed the situation with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, while noting that he speaks regularly with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali.
Honda has already received additional support through the ADUO catch-up system for underperforming power-unit manufacturers, although Alonso described the wider situation as requiring further work.
“We cannot wait for 2031 to have a proper sport, so I think it’s also my responsibility to help them with my experience, to make whatever we can do,” he said.
The intervention comes as Alonso continues to consider his future, although he is widely expected to remain with Aston Martin in 2027.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.