F1 in good hands with new generation - Alonso

Fernando Alonso believes F1 is in good hands with its next generation of drivers but warned the sport must reduce the importance of car performance to help the future superstars shine.

Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and George Russell are just some of the younger drivers showing their class this year, all of them having risen through the junior ranks whilst affiliated with a team.

Alonso, who won two titles in 2005 and 2006 and is now one of the most senior drivers on the grid, said: “We are definitely in a good moment for the sport, with the new generation.

“They have the talent, the preparation, the academies that help them throughout the different categories, they have the tools the simulator and very sophisticated engineers and tools when they get to Formula 1.”

Norris stepped straight into a front-line team with McLaren, while Leclerc cut his teeth at Sauber before being promoted to Ferrari and Williams driver Russell has been on the Mercedes driver programme with a view to joining the champions in future.

Alonso is concerned, however, that modern-day F1 puts too much emphasis on the cars and, while all have exceptional talent, they are at the front, middle and rear of the grid because of their cars.

“We see with Lando, for example, or George, they are both young and talented, both fighting for podiums and one didn’t score any points yet and that is a little bit unfair when the car is so dominant,” said Alonso.

“Even with Charles, in a way, when you saw when the Ferrari was winning Charles was on top of maybe that generation and now the car is not in that position, so it is quite related to the car and it was in the past as well.”

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