The new departure regulations will not change anything for Alonso
If a lot of noise has been made about the change in start procedures, Fernando Alonso believes that it will not change much in his approach.
The Belgian Grand Prix is the first where the new procedure rules will be implemented. The aim is to place greater importance on this crucial phase of the race. Thus, communications between the pit wall and the drivers will no longer be allowed during formation laps to optimize the start.
However, during the traditional Thursday press conference, Fernando Alonso stated that this first step was not very significant for him: « Not much. It won’t be a significant change. I know there are discussions, but maybe it will be more different next year or the years after. What we will have this year is simply restrictions between the drivers and the teams. »
But McLaren’s procedures do not provide for significant exchanges at this level: « At least in our team, we do not have specific communications or strategy during the formation laps. So, it won’t change much. »
Similarly, it is expected that next year engineers will no longer be able to give advice to drivers on tire management or fuel consumption. For the double world champion, these changes are not necessarily very important either: “We are fully aware of what is happening in the car and the best solutions for particular problems during the race. So if the information doesn’t come, it will still come instinctively and with the car’s reactions.”
Nevertheless, he recognizes that they are moving in the right direction by giving importance back to the drivers: « This is not a big change, but all these changes are still welcome. We are going to have a little more to do in the car and we will feel a little more important. »
From our special correspondent in Spa-Francorchamps
