Radio clampdown strange direction to go in - Alonso

  • Published on 17 Mar 2016 09:23
  • comments 5
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Fernando Alonso thinks F1 is taking a backwards step with the further clampdown on pit-to-car radio communication in 2016. The clampdown made a tentative first step last year, but now the allowed messages between the pitwall and the driver will be further tightened in a bid to end the impression that engineers are remote-controlling the cars.

It emerged in Melbourne on Thursday that only 24 radio messages are still allowed, including news about the weather, car damage and instructions to make a pitstop. World champion Lewis Hamilton warned that the drivers' task will be tougher as a result. "You will see stickers on the steering wheel because so much of it (the radio information) is just to keep the car going," he said.

And Alonso, already critical of the current 'power unit' and Pirelli tyre-dominated era, warned that the radio clampdown could actually make the racing worse in 2016. "I don't think it will give to the driver any more power to influence the race," said the Spaniard in Melbourne.

"Because of those limitations, the strategy for the race will be much more strict. We will follow, more or less, the (fixed) approach to the race - how we prepared in meetings - much more than before. It's strange the direction they are going," Alonso added. "In the era of communication and technology, formula one tries to restrict it, which is not really the normal way to go." (GMM)

Replies (5)

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  • Im pretty neutral about this change, not sure if it will impact anything really, apart from mayyyybe increase load on the engines (bad) and maybe less eco-driving (good).

    • + 0
    • Mar 17 2016 - 09:35
  • Alonso... but but but you said you are the most complete driver, at least you wanted to mirror whatever some corners had to say about your two titles. If that's the case you don't need radio baby sitting. Now get on with it.

    • + 0
    • Mar 17 2016 - 10:12
  • RacetoWin

    Posts: 95

    stop with the fuel saving period of races and have at it boys!

    • + 0
    • Mar 17 2016 - 17:03
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Probably not a bad thing, sometimes you could hear drivers actually asking the engineers what they should do because they didn't have a clue...
    If that happens, as a driver it's your problem so deal with it ;)

    • + 0
    • Mar 17 2016 - 18:21
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    About time, now quit crying and drive.

    • + 0
    • Mar 17 2016 - 18:29

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