They asked Alonso about the difference between past and present drivers and this is his answer

When Fernando Alonso was competing in his first F1 season in 2001 at the wheel of a Minardi, the man from Oviedo shared the grid with Michael Schumacher and his brother Ralf, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello, Mika Hakkinen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen, Jacques Villeneuve, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Eddie Irvine, Jean Alesi, Jenson Button, Pedro de la Rosa, Jos Verstappen , Jarno Trulli , Giancarlo Fisichella and others, all of whom are fondly remembered for their time in F1 and their unique character.

Therefore, in an interview with the ‘Financial Times’, asked Fernando Alonso about the main differences between former and current drivers. He didn’t hesitate to explain it.

According to Fernando Alonso, who is in his 21st season in Formula 1, he believes that in recent years most teams have created professional structures for training young talents with their junior driver academies and the greatest technology and knowledge that exists at the moment compared to 20 years ago are factors that allow young people to reach F1 more prepared than ever.

However, he believes that a step back has been taken in terms of personalities: according to the Spaniard, the current drivers have lost their individuality and everyone is more equal.

“There really are differences. I think the previous generation was a little more genuine. They were different in character, in the way they approached racing and life. They were very tough competitors.”commented Fernando.

“The drivers today I would say are very good, maybe more than before because of all the preparation they havethe young pilot academies, simulator work and the technology and data available to improve and learn quickly. “They are more willing to go to F1”argument.

“But off the track or without the helmet on, maybe they are a little the same and more shy in the way they approach things.. They have people speaking for them, for management, for media, for physical preparation… “They’re ready, but maybe they’ve lost a little bit of their individuality.”, argued with the Spaniard about the latest talents promoted to F1, such as Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Albon or Piastri. Although he did not give names.

An F1 with a bit of character

Alonso refers generally to this subject. And currently, in F1 everything is controlled and the teams measure the words of their drivers in detail: they warn them of questions or topics that the media will discuss in interviews, they analyze the news of the day to their heads of The press tell them what to say and when they make statements, their press officer records everything to avoid any problems. Pilots, most of the time, can no longer say what they want and perhaps can no longer show their own character.

The only Chinese driver on the grid, Zhou Guanyu, spoke about this for MD. “I don’t think the paddock changes people… but of course the paddock makes each person a little more stressed and also some people may not be able to show themselves or be their true selves. I see the drivers, of course, that they can be who they are,” the Asian said.

“But every year there are many rumors, many news, things that are true, things that are not true… so it’s all about how to balance that, because for drivers, the hardest part of being in F1 It’s that you don’t have room for mistakes and at the same time you have to perform at your best and the more you fail, the more people can say, you know, like ‘oh, he’s leaving next year!’ is difficult,” Zhou told MD a few weeks ago.