Alonso: Sound is F1's biggest problem

Fernando Alonso says his brief run in a pre-V6 Hybrid era Formula 1 car has helped him realise how much the sound of current cars has detracted from the "action" of modern-day F1. Alonso drive a 2013 McLaren for an installation lap in a recent car swap with NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson.

The Bahrain show run gave Alonso the chance to sample American stock-car machinery, however the day following his F1 retirement he found himself back in the cockpit once again to shakedown the MP4-28, with its V8 engine still on-board.

Alonso confirmed that he had not been scheduled to take to the wheel of an F1 car so soon after his final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but still took plenty from the brief drive.

"It was not planned to be honest," said Alonso. "I was supposed to only drive the other car but it made sense if I was doing the installation lap just to make sure the car was feeling OK.

"I found myself in the cockpit at 11am this morning after retiring yesterday.

"It was a lot of fun even if from the inside of the car the noise is not so different compared to the cars we are driving now.

"But even from the outside it was again something very, very special.

"So, we are missing a lot of action because of the sound right now."

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