F1, Fernando Alonso shakes up Formula 1: “The problem is society, not the sport” – his shock proposal at Monza. Fernando Alonso sparks controversy at Monza before the Italian GP.

Italian GP – Fernando Alonso challenges Domenicali on proposed changes: “The problem is not Formula 1” and launches a shock proposal

On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Fernando Alonso created one of the most debated moments of the traditional Thursday press conference. With Formula 1 reflecting on possible changes to the race weekend format — ranging from additional sprint races to reducing the length of Grands Prix — the two-time world champion sent a clear warning: “The problem is not the sport, but society.”

It was a direct message that went straight to the heart of the debate initiated by Stefano Domenicali. The Formula 1 CEO had suggested that younger fans, with increasingly shorter attention spans, might prefer shorter and more spectacular races, even at the cost of sacrificing some tradition. Fernando Alonso, however, stood firm in defending the essence of Formula 1: “Even a football match lasts 90 minutes, and nobody is suggesting cutting it down to 60 just because someone gets distracted in front of the TV.”

The Spanish driver underlined that the real essence of a Grand Prix lies in its duration, the opportunities it offers drivers to recover positions, overturn compromised situations, exploit different strategies, and manage tyre wear effectively. “With the sprint races, if you make a mistake in qualifying or at the start, you have no time to recover. In a real Grand Prix, you do: tyres, strategies, and race management can change everything.”

Fernando Alonso’s shock proposal

But Fernando Alonso did not limit himself to defending tradition. He went further, relaunching with a proposal that immediately sparked the imagination of fans: “Probably bringing back refueling would be the best solution. When you could choose your fuel load and the strategies were so different, the races kept changing face continuously.”

The return of refueling, which was banned in 2010, would be a sensational step for a sport that has instead been working to reduce costs and simplify operations. However, Alonso’s words brought back vivid memories of the epic races of the 2000s, when bold strategies and unexpected turnarounds were the order of the day.

The debate is now wide open: on one side are those like Domenicali, who see the future of Formula 1 in shorter and more direct entertainment, and on the other are those like Alonso, who insist on protecting the tradition and DNA of the sport. And there could hardly be a better stage for this discussion than Monza, the temple of speed.