Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Breaking news

F1 must not axe standing-starts - Alonso

A crash at the start involving Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Romain Grosjean, Lotus F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber

A crash at the start involving Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Romain Grosjean, Lotus F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber

XPB Images

Sep.5 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has rejected claims F1 should consider abandoning its standing-starts in the wake of last Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard was lucky to escape serious injury when the now-banned Romain Grosjean's Lotus flew dangerously close to Alonso's exposed cockpit opening.

The incident has triggered renewed calls for F1 to ramp up the cars' head protection, while some have even suggested the sport might follow Indy's lead by getting its races up and running with a rolling start.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari leads at the start of the race
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari leads at the start of the race

Photo by: xpb.cc

"The start is part of the charm of the competition (in F1)," Alonso is quoted as saying by the Spanish news agency EFE.

"I find the chase to the first corner good, where you are calculating risk and making decisions very quickly. Together with the team, a lot of preparation is put into the starts.

"It's too important a part of F1 to lose," insisted Alonso.

The former two-time world champion also baulked at recent moves to further slow the cars, because F1 single seaters "should be the fastest".

"I am surprised and upset about some of the proposed changes in the future, like electric cars etcetera," Alonso admitted.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Grosjean hasn't blown second shot at F1 - Boullier
Next article Grosjean apologised to Alonso by text message

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA