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F1 has nothing to fear over 2017 rules - Alonso

Fernando Alonso says Formula 1 should have nothing to fear about overtaking being harder with 2017 cars, because history has shown that some of the greatest races were delivered when it was hard to pass.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31

McLaren

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull Racing RB12 and Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31 battle for position
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren with the media
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 Team W07 and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 Team W07
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 Team
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF16-H and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 with broken front wings at the start of the race
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 Team

With F1's 2017 aerodynamic regulations having been signed off without changes following the latest team meetings this week, several drivers have voiced concerns about the new cars.

They fear that the higher downforce machinery will make it harder to follow other cars, which will in turn making overtaking much more difficult.

But in a week when F1 has been reflecting on the thrilling 2005 and 2006 San Marino Grands Prix, Alonso believes that the sport should not view it as completely negative if overtaking is not easy.

When asked by Motorsport.com about his views on the 2017 regulations, Alonso said: "I think it is going in the right direction. We need to make the cars faster and the show better.

"We have been remembering for the last week the race in Imola 2005 with Michael [Schumacher] and me, and then in 2006 with the opposite result. But they were very interesting races.

"There were three or four overtakings in the whole race and it was considered one of the best shows. So I don't think that we need to put that attention on the overtaking and following cars like that – before it was as difficult as it is now, or even more – and the races were great.

"We just need the fastest cars to produce a good show. We need to put some noise in the cars and we need to put some good battles, and the big names fighting for the championship. That will improve the show."

False passing

After a Chinese Grand Prix that witnessed around 150 overtaking moves, Alonso thinks the sport has to be careful in not making passing too easy.

"China is an extreme case because the race was very confused because of the strategies and the safety car, everything, it was mixed," he said.

"But definitely nowadays it is very possible that the car that is running 16th or 17th can overtake a Mercedes out of the pit lane with new tyres. You overtake them and you pull away. That is difficult to explain to the people in front of the television.

"The overtakings are not probably as real as they were before. You don't need to be inspired by something to do an overtaking or choose the right moment or the right place. If it is not this corner you wait another corner and you will pass because they are five seconds slower."

He added: "It is a constant need of creating news or changing F1 to improve and sometimes, as it is now, it is a little bit too artificial and too slow.

"We are running quite good lap times in qualifying for one lap, and obviously this year we are using the super soft tyres and the full battery available, and the cars are quite efficient now.

"But in the race we are running nine seconds slower because you put the fuel and the tyres are not anymore so grippy, and those timed laps are not acceptable for an F1 car."

Hamilton hopes he is wrong

But not all drivers share Alonso's views that the changes next year will be positive.

World champion Lewis Hamilton has said that his fears the new rules will make the racing worse have not changed, but said he hopes ultimately he is wrong.

"I have to be careful what I say, but it is not great," he said. "We will do the best job we can with it.

"I know my guys will do an exceptional job with the rule as it is, but we can't really change anything. If we change something but we know it is not going to make a difference….

"Let's hope that we are wrong those of us – the engineers who know what is going to happen, just like they knew with the rules of qualifying.

"I hope we prove them wrong – because we are stuck in that period for three years and for the fans it doesn't get any better. But those guys made the decision and we will live with it."

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