- Ferrari
'You will need to be very clever' - Alonso
Fernando Alonso believes intelligent drivers will come out on top this year as the new engines change the way races pan out.
As part of the regulation changes for 2014, cars feature V6 turbo engines with more powerful energy recovery systems and a 100kg limit on fuel for the race. Alonso believes the added complexity of the power units and the need to save fuel will add another element of strategy for drivers to deal with.
"Last year, towards the end of the races, on new tyres, you could do very quick lap times, whereas in the closing stages this year, you will have to bear in mind how much fuel you have left, the state of the batteries and that of the tyres," he told the Ferrari website. "You will need to be very clever to manage these parameters and the new race strategies could see drivers being unable to go flat out to the end."
He also believes there will be an even bigger contrast between qualifying pace and race pace.
"The new Formula One rules are very different to what we were used to. I think the concept of what constitutes a Grand Prix will actually change this year, with Saturday and Sunday being very different from one another. In qualifying, one will be able to get everything out of the car, pushing the new power unit to the limit, trying to get the absolutely best result. But in the race you won't get anywhere near that level."
But he is hoping the new style of grand prix racing will not be toyed with too much.
"As drivers, we will get used to it quickly and so I hope these rules aren't immediately overturned and that they stay unchanged for a few years. Otherwise the spectators could lose confidence in this new Formula 1 which is very complex, even for the viewer."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
