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Motorsport

Alonso on panic after 'boring' Suzuka race: "F1 has always been like that"

F1 Fernando Alonso Suzuka (Facility) Aston Martin (Person) Yuki Tsunoda

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso thinks Formula 1 observers should calm down a little after last weekend's Suzuka race left media looking answers on how to improve the racing.

Following an already tepid Chinese Grand Prix, Japan's Suzuka race was hampered by a lack of action as the circuit's demanding layout meant dirty air made it tough for cars to race each other closely, and a lack of tyre degradation also cancelled out most strategic opportunities. Other than Lewis Hamilton passing Isack Hadjar early doors, the remaining drivers in the top 10 finished in the same position they started from.

But according to Alonso the clamor around F1's lack of overtaking is being overplayed as this year's F1 cars are still "very far away" from the 2021 generation, which he labelled the worst cars of his career in terms of dirty air.

"Formula 1 has been always like that," said two-time world champion Alonso, who managed to keep the faster Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda at bay for most of the Suzuka race for 11th. "Sometimes you watch a race from '86 and there is one stop, and it's a beautiful thing to watch. And maybe the first two cars are 45 seconds away from the third car.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team (Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images)

"Now we are in constant search for more overtaking, more pitstops, [bringing] all the teams closer together. And there are other beautiful categories to search and to watch that. This is Formula 1 and we have to love it as it is."

Alonso thinks the huge media attention around the series hasn't helped either. "I think less media will be my [solution]," he added.

"Honestly, it's not your fault. It's just the amount of press conferences we do; fan forums, more questions after FP2, our team's own social media debriefs and then qualifying and the race. When you multiply that for 20 drivers plus team principals, I think we talk too much."

Photos from Bahrain - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes relaxes in the Paddock

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber talks with team Ferrari team members

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas reserve driver

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Peter Bonnington, Race Engineer Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Luke Browning, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Thursday

Formula 1

51

In this article

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Fernando Alonso

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