• Ferrari news

Alonso defends DRS overtakes

ESPNF1 Staff
May 9, 2011 « Rigon suffers leg fractures | »
Fernando Alonso stuggled to get past Nico Rosberg early in the race © Sutton Images
Enlarge
Related Links
  • In Focus:
  • DRS

Fernando Alonso has defended the DRS after comments that overtaking in the Turkish Grand Prix was too easy.

Many passing moves occurred in the DRS zone on the run down to turn 12, with the majority being completed on the straight before the cars reached the braking zone. Alonso, however, said that it wasn't the result of the moveable rear wing making overtaking too easy, but more a consequence of the rapidly-degrading Pirelli tyres.

"I think it was fine," Alonso told the BBC. "The overtaking we saw was more from tyre-performance difference than DRS. I like it; we are getting used to it. It is a new F1 compared to last year. When we followed Rosberg in the first couple of laps, it was impossible to overtake him but when he started to have tyre degradation it was very easy to overtake him. So it is more tyre-related."

Alonso also said that detractors of the system should remember that the new rules were implemented by request in order to increase entertainment, though he hoped the races were not becoming too difficult to follow.

"It is what the people asked," he said. "More show, more pit stops, more overtaking. It can be a bit confusing for people. You can follow the first five guys but you cannot follow the 14th place because it is already too many stops. But the important thing is lots of people in the grandstands and lots of people in front of the television and hopefully this year it is better."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices