Fernando Alonso has admitted he has become disenchanted with the current state of Formula 1, and has revealed he has contemplated racing in other series’ as a result.
The thirty-three-year-old was linked to a drive in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Porsche LMP1 squad but a deal was not forthcoming.
Despite the Spaniard enduring a troublesome season with his McLaren-Honda team that has yielded just a solitary point for a tenth place finish at Silverstone, Alonso remains committed and motivated to make the team winners again in Formula 1 but feels the sport is not as exciting as it used to be.
“I love motorsport, all the categories, and it is true that F1 is not exactly the same, or as exciting as it was in the past – at least to me, to drive the cars two or three seconds faster than a GP2 car,” said Alonso.
“Right now, there is huge motivation and a fantastic project that I am in right now with McLaren-Honda. My first go-kart was a McLaren-Honda replica and I am in a real McLaren-Honda, so I am enjoying this process of getting competitive starting from zero.
“But with no testing, with these tyres, with these limitations, with the calendar for example next year, there is the temptation [for doing] other categories, that is true.”
Alonso also feels the lack of freedom with testing is costing Formula 1, with teams unable to develop their cars as easily as they used to be able to during the early years of the Spaniard’s career.
“It was more fun before, but I don’t think it is because we have more sensors or more information,” revealed Alonso. “Before we had some freedom in terms of testing and in terms of improving the car as well.
“You find your car that is not competitive in the first quarter of the season and then you have some solutions and maybe you end up in a competitive way.
“Now Mercedes will win all the races and Manor will be last in all the races, with more or less sensors or more or less input of driver or team. It is not the amount of information we get.
“We have the hands tied for the season so when we put the car in Barcelona or Jerez for the first test it is a coin in the air and if it is competitive you will have a good season and if it is not competitive you will have a bad season.”
