Fernando Alonso has lamented the loss of high-speed cornering in Formula 1 in 2026, likening it to electric car charging stations.
Alonso is one F1 2026’s most fiercest critics, bemoaning the immense energy recovery and management required from the new breed of car.
Telling Motorsport Week that we could drive the car around Turn 12 in Bahrain, followed by the Aston Martin hospitality chef, the Spaniard continues to champion for change.
The opening three races have exacerbated the issue of energy management, with Oliver Bearman’s crash at Suzuka resulting in a review of the regulations.
Prior to the race, Alonso outlined the dramatic impact of superclipping at Suzuka, the cars slowing considerably through 130R to recharge energy.
“It’s gone, I told you in Bahrain testing that the chef could drive the car, now, maybe not the chef, but 50% of the team members could drive Suzuka,” Alonso told media, including Motorsport Week, on driver skill in high-speed corners.
Fernando Alonso bemoans mobile “charging stations”
Alonso reiterated his concerns over the regulations, believing that the current generation of power units do not require driver skill, but remained hopeful of a solution.
“As I’ve said a few times already, the high-speed corners have now become the charging station for the car,” he said.
“So you go slow there and charge the battery in the high-speed, and then you have full power on the straights, so driver skill is not needed anymore, it is no longer a challenge in the high-speed corners.
“It is difficult [to improve the cars] as it will always be biased on the straights and saving energy, so it would improve on the super-clipping and the de-rates.
“It is something which should be fixed, and it is very possible that a quick fix on the regulations will improve, but in terms of how much you will push the car to the limit, that will not be needed, ever, with these regulations.”
Alonso’s crushing criticism will add fuel to the growing dissent over F1’s “new era.” The meeting taking place on April 9th between the FIA and the teams will prove crucial in finding a solution. Expect Alonso to be one of the biggest advocates for change.