Alonso hopes 2017 rules fix ''unacceptable" F1 speeds

The Spaniard has been open that the latest generation of turbo hybrid cars, allied to the characteristics of the tyres, have made him question whether he will stick around in F1 for much longer unless things change.

But with new rules coming in for next season – which could make cars up to five seconds per lap faster – Alonso thinks that some of his current frustrations can be quickly erased.

"Probably yes - that is the intention behind it," he said, when asked if 2017 rules can inspire him. "I think the cars now are too slow, it is something that is quite noticeable – especially in the race pace.

"In qualifying with full deployment and very soft tyres we are using, the laptime is okay. But then in the race we are definitely very slow.

"I think next year the cars will be more challenging, more exciting. The speeds in the corners, probably they go back to what we used to feel in the past, what F1 should be."

Unacceptable

Although softer tyres and car/engine improvements have helped F1 beat some records this year, Alonso says that the sport has still not made enough progress.

In particular, he highlights the fact that on Friday in Hungary, the GP2 pole position time of 1m25.612 was good enough to get comfortably in the middle of F1's free practice best.

"I think in GP2 in the first [Friday] session, it was two or three seconds off the pace of F1 in FP1 and that is unacceptable," he said. "So next year, fingers crossed we will go back to a normal F1."

Regulation wrong path

Alonso's teammate Jenson Button is equally positive about the new cars coming for next year, which he thinks will help the sport regain ground with the regulations having headed in the wrong direction recently.

"We've both been around for a few years now and remember the days of V10s and tyre wars and massive amount of downforce," he said. "We have experienced so many different types of F1 and the last few haven't been the best in terms of the regulation changes.

"F1 as a whole understands that, and that is why we have these big changes for the future. We've gone the wrong direction with regulations, so it is making sure we go in the right direction now. We are not in the right place and I think next year is a good step forward."

He added: "You can say it is brave, because there are a lot of changes, mechanical grip, aerodynamic grip, but I think it is fantastic that F1 is on this path and it will be more like we are used to.

"We will get out of the cars with a bigger grin on our faces and I think the sport will just grow because of that.

"I don't think overtaking will be more of an issue because of the type of aerodynamics that we have on the cars next year. It should not be affecting the front wings as much as other people might expect.

"It is great and I think every F1 driver would be excited about driving the car about in terms of how it might feel, especially with those big tyres."