Alonso urges F1 to keep improving regulations as future remains open

Fernando Alonso is using his position as a two-time world champion to push for further improvements to Formula 1's 2026 regulations, insisting the racing product still needs work despite changes already planned for 2027.

Why it matters:

Alonso's frustration reflects a wider driver discontent with the current technical rules, which force drivers to manage battery energy rather than push flat-out. His direct talks with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem could help shape the sport's regulatory future, with potential knock-on effects for engine suppliers and circuit design.

The details:

• Alonso is expected to remain with Aston Martin, but his public doubts stem from the 2026 rules' counter-intuitive battery management demands.
• The 2027 changes will shift to a 60-40 split between combustion power and electric energy, plus an increase in fuel flow, reducing reliance on harvesting and allowing drivers to attack corners more naturally.
• Alonso has also been in touch with Ben Sulayem about the FIA's plan to rethink the ADUO catch-up mechanism for struggling power unit manufacturers like Honda.
• "We are less competitive than the grid, yes. But I don't think that's the critical point for me to make a decision," he said in Baku.
• He argues F1 is the only series "where you need to drive slow to go fast," and says iconic high-speed corners have been neutered: "Silverstone... It's not fun anymore. Spa... Eau Rouge, Suzuka, the 130R. There were some circuits that were killed this year."

What's next:

Alonso acknowledges the sport is commercially thriving, pointing to the Miami Grand Prix as a great event. But he, along with Max Verstappen, remains among the most vocal critics. With further tweaks already signed off for 2027, Alonso's ongoing dialogue with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the FIA suggests drivers will keep pushing for a more natural racing style before he commits to his next contract.