Alonso (Aston Martin-Honda) is furious: “Not like this” – has his enthusiasm for Formula 1 gone?

As early as the end of July, Aston Martin superstar Fernando Alonso was speaking like a driver who was seriously considering retirement. “I feel fresh, motivated and fast. But I also need to enjoy my work, and – quite honestly – driving at Silverstone and Spa wasn’t any fun.”

“We should always be striving to make our sport better, but for me behind the wheel – and for many spectators too – this is a Formula 1 that isn’t enjoyable. Lately, I haven’t felt the same adrenaline behind the wheel as I used to.”

At the Madring, the 2005 and 2006 Formula 1 champion mocked the World Championship as the “Battery World Championship”. “It’s in the nature of these power units that you have to recharge the battery in fast corners or at the end of the straights, because that’s when it’s most efficient. But those are precisely the places that a racer enjoys, or where a good driver makes the difference. That goes against the nature of a racer or against the instinct to push a car to its limits.”

Following qualifying at the new Madring Formula 1 circuit, the 45-year-old Asturian is disillusioned: “It’s sad that you arrive at a new, exciting circuit with really challenging corners like the Monumental – and then, with these cars, the driver’s contribution is zero.”

“Our media representative could drive the Monumental. But that’s not the motor racing I want. I want a Formula 1 in which skill and courage are rewarded. Now my speed depends solely on how much power is left in the battery.”

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“It can’t be right that just anyone is faster than Max Verstappen on a high-risk section like turns 10 to 12 here, simply because they have more battery power. On a section like that, an above-average driver must be able to make the difference. But we can’t do that at the moment.”

“Things can’t carry on like this in Formula 1. We couldn’t wait until 2031, when the premier class will hopefully have naturally aspirated V8 engines again. And I see it as my duty to point this out, drawing on my experience.”