Fernando Alonso – Formula 1’s wily old fox – recently shared a nostalgic look back at the aspects of the sport he misses most from his early days in the paddock.
At 43, the two-time world champion, who made his Grand Prix debut in 2001, has witnessed firsthand the sport’s relentless evolution, navigating an array of technical regulations, engine eras, and transformative shifts that culminated in his 400th Grand Prix milestone in Mexico last month.
When asked what he misses most about his earlier years in F1, the Aston Martin charger Alonso didn’t hold back, delivering a heartfelt – and slightly cheeky – list.
“Refueling. Fast cars on Sundays. The sound of the engine. Bigger sponsors. Grid girls. Grid boys,” Alonso said, quoted by RacingNews365.
“It was different marketing. Now it’s all about social media. Before, it was more into the real world.”
Alonso’s nostalgic memories of screaming V10 engines and daring mid-race refueling strategies, while unsurprising, contrast sharply with today’s efficiency-driven regulations and social media-driven marketing strategies.
Despite his wistfulness, Alonso remains pragmatic about the present state of Formula 1, acknowledging that the sport has never been more popular or professionally run.
“I think we’re in a good place now,” he said. “F1 is very popular around the world, especially in the US. This is thanks to Liberty Media and all the actions that they are making.”
Alonso also praised the introduction of the budget cap, which has leveled the playing field among teams, fostering greater competition.
“Teams are now very professional, a lot of discipline, budget caps. So I think we are probably the best moment of F1,” he said.
The Spaniard, however, admitted there are trade-offs to the sport’s current emphasis on efficiency and sustainability. He lamented the reduced pace of race-day cars compared to their qualifying trim due to the added weight of fuel and energy storage systems.
“It's true that in the past, especially the pit stops, gave you a lot of strategy possibilities, starting with higher fuel, lower loads, going for three stops or one-stop. We didn’t have to manage as much as we do now.
“And the races, because we race with 30 kilos [of fuel] on board… the qualifying versus race pace was one second slower or something like that.
“Now between the battery and the fuel load, sometimes in races, we are seven seconds slower or something at the beginning of the race and that’s a little bit less motivating.”
Yet F1’s senior citizen concluded by reaffirming that F1, for all its changes, is at its zenith.
“The best moment of the sport is right now,” he said.
As F1 races into an ever-evolving future, Alonso’s reflections are a reminder of the vibrant history that made the sport what it is today.
While the screeching roar of V10s and dramatic refueling strategies may be gone, the relentless drive to innovate and captivate fans continues to keep Formula 1 at the forefront of global motorsport.
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