Alonso: Overtaking will still be tough

Fernando Alonso has played down fears that the 2011 rules will make overtaking too easy and even too prevalent.

In the latest attempt to increase the level of action in Formula 1, the teams have agreed that the power-boosting KERS devices can return, and have introduced a new system under which the rear wing can be adjusted to reduce drag and increase straightline speed when a car is within a certain distance of a rival's rear wing.

But Alonso thinks that with the issues of turbulent air often preventing cars getting close together in the first place, it won't be easy for drivers to get within the required range to trigger the wing device.

"The mobile rear wing can only be used on one straight on a lap, so the most important thing would be to arrive at the last corner with less than 1.5 seconds behind the car in front, which is really difficult," he said.

"I don’t see the possibility of many overtaking manoeuvres.

"I think that it will still be difficult to overtake.

"And overtaking will still include taking risk."

He agreed with concerns that the new devices - all of which have to be operated by the drivers using steering wheel controls - were making driving F1 cars more mentally taxing.

"I think more than anything else that all these commands make driving more difficult," Alonso said.

"It’s much more difficult than you can imagine driving a Formula 1 single-seater. As of this year there are two more buttons: to control the wing and the KERS. Driving a GT is much more fun and you can concentrate more on driving."

At the moment, Fernando Alonso is one of the few drivers who have used the ARW. If he thinks overtaking will still be difficult, then we as fans should be delighted. Obviously the system is meant to increase top speed on the straight, therefore aiding overtaking. The issue for fans being that overtaking might become artificial and require little skill. Fernando disagrees. Hopefully this means an overtake will be possible in situations like Alonso vs Petrov in Abu Dhabi, but would still be tough to do.

 

With the ARW, I wonder whether different teams systems will have a different level of effectiveness? In theory, it'd be possible to use the rear wing for a very large proportion of the downforce, and position it so as to maximise downforce, so when the ARW kicks in, there is a major drop in downforce, allowing greater speeds? Or whether teams will have treated more as a bolt-on to their current downforce systems. If the wing is a lesser part of controlling downforce, with more reliance on the car floor and diffusers, then maybe the ARW will be less effective?

I'm no engineer, so I'm purely speculating. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

I'm glad overtaking shouldn't be too easy, it kind of defeats the point of it!

 

Alonso this, and Alonso that, To be honest, I don't care what he thinks, we'll have to wait until the season actually starts. Didn't we agree on less Alonso threads and more F!? We know he likes the attention of the media, but stop with 'Alonso says this' threads, he is not always right.

 

I thought it would be appropriate to hear his views, given that he has had practise using it. And the main article is about the rear wing and its affect on overtaking, not really about Alonso.

 

Alonso: "overtaking will be tougher"

Which means that he'll be throwing even more hissyfits down the radio and waving at the pits in 2011 to bully the team to slow down felippe.

lol...some people never change lol

 

Other drivers will find it easier to use than others. So Alonso could be saying this because he is having trouble with it, therefore trying to convince the other drivers it won't work. Simple mind games can go a long way in F1, as we've seen before on many occasions

 

Alonso should be fine with it. Hes used KERS before with Renault and Ferrari probably had the hardest F-Duct to use

Post 100 wooop! im now a senior member...ahem..*applies posh tash*

 

Hmmm.

Alonso also thought the ban on refuelling was bad for F1, that F1 is not a sport, that Ferrari weren't using team orders and that Hamilton wasn't a title threat in 2008.

I can't say I really value his thoughts too much.

We will have to see - it does seem like an awful lot to do in a race but with some driver aids they also have a lot less in a way.

 

I think that they should get rid of a lot of these driving aids, and cut down on help via the radio, but I'm old-school. The drivers have it a bit too easy these days, half the time it could be the mechanics or team bosses back at the factories who are driving the car with the pilot just obeying their commands. I liked it last season when Alonso said no more radio during a race, a lot of the stuff they say to the drivers is unnecessary and must be annoying a lot of the time.

 

Completely agree Ashbee, that from Alonso was one of my favourites. Brilliant. Not quite as good as when he was told to come in to the pits or slow down (something like that - help me out) and he said, "no I can't do that"

Alonso commands his drive to his team on the whole whereas a lot of others are dictated to by their engineer.

Radio for safety reasons only - the pit board is fine for everything else.

 

When you go pass a pit board at 200mph, how much can you actually read? Personally if I was driving, I'd rather I just got updates when on the main straight(s) when I didn't have to think about a lot.

 

I'm astonished really DHCanary at how often I hear the drivers say they look at the big screen. Were it not for that I'd agree with you. How much do they need other than laps, time compared to team mate, position and when to pit?

I'm a bit anti the whole coaching a driver which we hear with Massa as an example.

 

I remember hearing Brundle saying that Massa never takes the same line twice in a race. This can have it's advantages, say when grip is hard to find, but pit crew could think he needs advising on driving techniques. I heard one from Dominecali (I think, and I know I can't spell his name) in 2010 where he said to not use 1st gear, becuase the engine was getting too hot. Obviously, the driver needs information about engine temps, but I think they feel a better driver would figure that out when they say 'engine temps are getting too hot'.

 

Sounds like alonso is preparing his excuses already. We know has problems overtaking backmarkers rookies etc

Mind you he achieved the most perfect overtake ever, clean and smooth. I think it as Germany last year on massa