SM
Friday, November 8
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

F1, not teams, to blame for rookie logjam - Alonso

:Headline: F1, not teams, to blame for rookie logjam - Alonso:
Formula 1 teams should not be blamed for their reluctance to replace experienced drivers with rookies, according to Fernando Alonso.
Sports Mole

Formula 1 teams should not be blamed for their reluctance to replace experienced drivers with rookies, according to Fernando Alonso.

At 42, the Spaniard is currently linked with a sensational switch from Aston Martin to Mercedes in 2025 to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

But, officially, Alonso insists he is not even ruling out retirement.

"He's bought a new boat," smiled former F1 boss Eddie Jordan on his Formula For Success podcast. "That's often an indication to me.

"People have a habit of buying boats and retiring so let's see what happens."

But if Alonso does stick around, Aston Martin has made it more than clear that it would re-sign the two-time champion for more than just another season.

Last week, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks it's because of older drivers like Alonso that the road onto the grid is currently blocked for rookies.

"I have nothing against Fernando," he said, "but the objective of F1 is not to have an increasingly older grid."

One of 22-year-old Liam Lawson's backers, Rodin Cars boss David Dicker, blames the Formula 1 teams for the logjam.

"How many guys on the F1 grid would be capable of winning the world championship if they were in the best car?" he wondered to Formula Scout. "Five or six maybe?

"I don't understand why they don't turn them over a bit more, because in business and everything else you would. But it's almost like 'Jeez, this guy's going to be heartbroken if he's out of a seat.

"Man, you've got to perform," he insists.

Alonso, however, hits back at the idea that the older drivers or the teams should be blamed for the lack of rookies in Formula 1.

He is a fierce critic of the sport's current testing restrictions.

"Some of the big teams can afford to implement a funding program with private tests in an old car for Formula 2 drivers," Alonso is quoted as saying by Speed Week.

"But even that is not thorough preparation or real testing, but that's just how things are going in this sport at the moment.

"We have so many race weekends that we compete in, which means the teams are already at capacity, both in terms of the budget cap and the workload of the employees who go to the 24 races.

"I think that's why it's almost impossible to set up a test team, as in the past, to be able to prepare the young drivers well," said Alonso. "Even the winter tests are very short.

"If you put a rookie in the car, he has exactly one and a half days of testing before the season starts. It is quite possible that this is preventing one or two team bosses from using young drivers.

"There are some things that are not going well in F1 now and sometimes as drivers we raise our voices. I hope that they will also be heard." body check tags ::

amp_article__539214 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-03-19 08:37:36:
html db last update - 2024-03-19 08:37:36 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Fernando Alonso

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:
FC
Read Next:
'Why not' replace Sainz with Bearman, F1 insider wonders
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Ralf Schumacher Liam Lawson Eddie Jordan David Dicker Formula 1
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
'Why not' replace Sainz with Bearman, F1 insider wonders
Amad to the rescue: Ivorian stars as Man United beat PAOK in Europa League

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Felix, Nkunku net brace as Chelsea run rampant in demolition of FC Noah

1

FN

Have Palmer, Rice made the cut? Lee Carsley's final England squad revealed!

2

HP

Neymar seeking Saudi exit in favour of return to former club?

3

NS

Dyche 'leaves door open' for Branthwaite exit amid Man United links

4

D'

Messi MVP quest continues, but will Busquets play? Inter Miami predicted XI vs. Atlanta

5

MM

Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PC

Thursday's Europa League predictions including Man Utd vs. PAOK

7

TE

Premier League return? Man United 'eyeing' move for Bayern forward

8

PL

Preview: Angers vs. PSG - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PA

Bernabeu to Anfield? Real Madrid 'open' to selling star 'contacted' by Liverpool

10

BT


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .