Alonso thinks regulation change boosts are down to luck

Fernando Alonso thinks that producing the optimum car after a regulation change is purely based on luck. He also thinks that some Formula One teams will get the new regulation change wrong and produce an under performing car. More aerodynamic efficiency is the focus of the regulation overhaul, with corner speeds predicted to be up to forty km/h quicker.

"When there are new rules you can be lucky or unlucky," said Alonso. "It depends on how every team interprets the rules, how the philosophy of the car goes.

"Maybe you choose to go right and someone in the paddock chooses to go left and you find in race four or five that your package aerodynamically goes to the left because you started wrongly. Hopefully we are one of those who does the job from the beginning."

The Spaniard also thinks McLaren have potential to catch top dogs Mercedes next year if they get the aerodynamic changes right.

"Let's say that Mercedes, the top power, will be difficult to reach, we know that - not for us, but for everyone. But I think we can be close enough that we can fight. I'm 100% confident we will reach the power that we want to reach, on aerodynamics I think it is more of a question mark."

Fergal Walsh