Fernando Alonso is a highly talented driver in the current Formula 1 lineup. He is widely recognized for his skill and success on the track.
The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix weekend will feature a new sprint format in Formula 1. However, this format has faced criticism from several drivers, including Alonso. One of the main concerns is the lack of practice sessions, as there is only one session available to prepare for the races.
After the practice session, the drivers will go straight to the sprint qualifying on Friday. This will be followed by the sprint race and the Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. Finally, the main race will take place on Sunday.
Interestingly, Alonso, a former Formula 1 driver and current ambassador for Aston Martin, has expressed support for the format. He even suggests eliminating the practice session altogether to push the teams and drivers to the limit. According to Alonso, he prefers going straight to qualifying without the need for warm-up or additional sets of tires. He believes that his first lap is usually the fastest and does not require much time to gain speed.
Pedro De La Rosa, a fellow Spanish driver and former Formula 1 driver, also praised Alonso’s readiness and confidence. Despite being the oldest driver on the grid, Alonso does not rely on practice sessions to perform at his best.
The new sprint race format will test the drivers’ skills within the limited practice time. Additionally, the absence of recent races in Shanghai adds to the challenge, as teams do not have previous data to predict how the cars will perform on the track.
De La Rosa believes that the format will showcase the best drivers and teams in Formula 1. He sees it as a positive and challenging opportunity for drivers to quickly adapt and demonstrate their skills.
The expectation involves the next race in China, with many eyes on the current world champion Max Verstappen. It will be interesting to see if he can deliver an exceptional performance at the Shanghai International Racing Circuit.