Fernando Alonso criticizes modern F1: “Progress yes, but purity is lost”

After 23 seasons in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso has developed a sharp, often uncompromising perspective on the evolution of the sport. As he approaches the 2026 season, the two-time world champion brings the same enthusiasm he had as a young driver, but also a deep awareness of how much Formula 1 has changed over the decades. Fernando Alonso observes a sport that is safer, more efficient, and more spectacular for fans, yet he candidly admits that some of the purity of driving has been lost behind the helmet.

Technical progress and the price at the wheel

According to Fernando Alonso, the evolution of Formula 1 has been undeniably positive in many areas. Safety standards have improved dramatically, engine technology has reached unprecedented levels, and the sport as a whole is more accessible and widely followed than ever before. Fernando Alonso explains: “We have made enormous progress: safety is incomparable, engine technology is extraordinary, and efficiency is something that twenty years ago seemed impossible.” Power units that deliver equal or greater performance while consuming drastically less fuel represent a peak of engineering achievement.

However, Alonso notes that these technical advances have had a side effect on the pure driving experience. “From a feeling perspective, something has been lost: these cars are bigger, heavier, and less instinctive than in the past.” This is not an empty critique, but the observation of a driver who has experienced radically different cars, in eras where the connection between pilot and machine was more direct and visceral.

Passion remains, and Formula 1 is still the pinnacle

The 2026 season will introduce slightly more compact and lighter cars, a change Fernando Alonso welcomes, even if the gap with the cars of his early career remains significant. Despite this, his hunger for driving remains undiminished. Away from official circuits, the former Ferrari and McLaren driver continues to seek adrenaline in every possible form. “When I am not in F1, you will find me on a kart, driving a buggy over the dunes, or behind the wheel of a rally car,” he shares, revealing a deep and enduring passion for motorsport in all its forms.

When looking ahead to the future, Fernando Alonso always returns to the same conclusion. “Whenever I evaluate what to do next year or in the coming years, I arrive at the same conclusion: Formula 1 remains the absolute pinnacle.” This statement explains why, despite the many changes in the sport, Fernando Alonso continues to consider Formula 1 the ultimate achievement for any racing driver.

This balance between technical admiration and nostalgic longing defines Fernando Alonso’s current chapter at Aston Martin. As he prepares to lead the team into the 2026 era alongside Adrian Newey, his ability to adapt to these “less instinctive” cars while maintaining elite speed remains his greatest strength. While the “purity” of the V10 era may be a distant memory, the competitive fire of the man behind the wheel burns as bright as ever, proving that for Alonso, the challenge of mastering a complex modern machine is just as rewarding as the raw speed of the past.