Alonso approves of 2017 changes after “horrible cars”

2017 F1 season

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Fernando Alonso says Formula One’s new regulations for 2017 are an improvements after the “horrible cars” of previous seasons.

The McLaren driver had a frustrating first day at the wheel of the MCL32 on Monday, completing just 29 laps. But he declared himself pleased with how the new cars look and feel.

Testing day one in pictures
“I think the only conclusion is that the cars look nice,” said Alonso after Monday’s running.

“They are definitely faster in the corners so it is good to come back to that feeling of the downforce in the corners and be able to push the car to the limit a little bit more, so I’m happy with that.”

“I saw some of the cars running alongside on the track and they look very good. So I’m happy for that, happy for the sport to go in the right direction. And probably apologise to the fans for the last five or six years they saw horrible cars.”

Alonso’s McLaren contract expires at the end of this season. He has previously criticised F1’s rules and said he will only continue in 2018 if he finds the cars more challenging to drive this year.

But despite his initially positive response to the changes, and following another troubled start to testing for McLaren yesterday, he told reporters media he will not make a decision on his future until “after the summer”.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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9 comments on “Alonso approves of 2017 changes after “horrible cars””

  1. Alonso to Mercedes in 2018.

    No way McLaren will be competitive and since cars will be nice to drive….

    Also since this is Alonso, Mercedes will nolonger dominate in 2018, because that is just his luck.

    Meanwhile Hamilton to Ferrari,… Chasing Schumacher records…

    1. all i want for christmas is hamilton and verstappen not winning anything

      1. where does Riccairdo fit i your list. (he also won one (live Verstappen) last year)

    2. Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
      28th February 2017, 20:07

      @jureo
      I was just fantasising about this myself and my prediction is:

      Mclaren – Vet/Van
      Ferrari – Ham/Sainz maybe Grosgrain
      Merc – Alonso/Bottas (possibly Wehrlein)
      RB – no change.

      1. Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
        28th February 2017, 20:08

        *Grosjean

  2. I used to work in an ugly building, surrounded by beautiful ones. It never bothered me, because the view was always nice.

    I bet that’s how Fernando feels when sitting inside that McLaren staring at the much prettier cars around him.

    1. @tim-m really, this should be comment of the day.

      I don’t know if you’re referring to the livery or how slow the car is, or something I’ve missed. Either way, you’re right.

      1. @strontium Thanks!

        I’m indeed referring to the livery, as well as Fernando’s comment ‘I think they (the cars) become sexy when they are fast’ :)

  3. Did you hear that FIA?

    Alonso apologizes for fans having to witness this previous generation of awful Formula One Cars.

    Now things are moving in the right direction, the cars look great with big tires and the performance level us up making it fun again for drivers. When the drivers have fun the fans get rewarded.

    Now get rid of DRS, KERS in its many manifestations and let drivers defend corners as needed.

    I want to see big balls passing like Villenueve on the outside of Schumacher at Estoril so many years ago

    Can you dig it FIA?

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