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19th December 2010, 13:26
Fernando Alonso believes that the 2011 world championship will see much more overtaking than recent years have, as he reckons the latest round of rule changes will finally address the lack of action in Formula 1.
While previous rule tweaks and technical changes have failed to resolve the issue of turbulent airflow making it hard for drivers to run closely together and attack each other, Alonso is optimistic about the 2011 plans.
Next year drivers chasing another car will be able to briefly activate a drag-reducing device on their rear wings, giving them a straightline speed boost to try and pass their rival.
The Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems will be back as well - giving drivers another tool that could help them race, and Alonso reckons the combination of KERS and the trick wings will revitalise the racing.
"Obviously every year normally Formula 1 changes rules to make it more spectacular, to have more overtaking manoeuvres and to have a better show," he said in a video interview at a gala event held by Ferrari sponsor Santander in Madrid.
"It's true that in 2011 there are two big changes to the regulations, which is the KERS and the rear wing that we can move when we have an overtaking possibility.
"I think these two combined give us a speed advantage that is quite big compared to the car in front.
"So I'm confident that next year, finally, the rules will help overtaking and we will have a better show for everybody."
He expects the moveable wing to become key to next year's title battle, as teams do their utmost to make their version of the device more effective than their rivals'.
"It is also is a new area to experiment and exploit for performance," Alonso noted.
The Spaniard - who surged into the points lead with a spectacular late-season performance this year only to lose the crown to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi - is confident that Ferrari will be in the championship fight in 2011, but expects to face a hard fight from up to three other teams.
"When you drive for Ferrari there is only one goal, which is fighting for the world championship," Alonso said.
"It's what people expect from Ferrari.
"I think there will be tough competition - Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren will be very competitive, so we need to work very hard - better than the others - if we want to win, and that's what we're doing now.
"It's a very intense period of the year for us, the whole team at Maranello is working 24 hours a day to build a new Ferrari better than this one, and I think we will."
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=49832&PO=49832
While previous rule tweaks and technical changes have failed to resolve the issue of turbulent airflow making it hard for drivers to run closely together and attack each other, Alonso is optimistic about the 2011 plans.
Next year drivers chasing another car will be able to briefly activate a drag-reducing device on their rear wings, giving them a straightline speed boost to try and pass their rival.
The Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems will be back as well - giving drivers another tool that could help them race, and Alonso reckons the combination of KERS and the trick wings will revitalise the racing.
"Obviously every year normally Formula 1 changes rules to make it more spectacular, to have more overtaking manoeuvres and to have a better show," he said in a video interview at a gala event held by Ferrari sponsor Santander in Madrid.
"It's true that in 2011 there are two big changes to the regulations, which is the KERS and the rear wing that we can move when we have an overtaking possibility.
"I think these two combined give us a speed advantage that is quite big compared to the car in front.
"So I'm confident that next year, finally, the rules will help overtaking and we will have a better show for everybody."
He expects the moveable wing to become key to next year's title battle, as teams do their utmost to make their version of the device more effective than their rivals'.
"It is also is a new area to experiment and exploit for performance," Alonso noted.
The Spaniard - who surged into the points lead with a spectacular late-season performance this year only to lose the crown to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi - is confident that Ferrari will be in the championship fight in 2011, but expects to face a hard fight from up to three other teams.
"When you drive for Ferrari there is only one goal, which is fighting for the world championship," Alonso said.
"It's what people expect from Ferrari.
"I think there will be tough competition - Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren will be very competitive, so we need to work very hard - better than the others - if we want to win, and that's what we're doing now.
"It's a very intense period of the year for us, the whole team at Maranello is working 24 hours a day to build a new Ferrari better than this one, and I think we will."
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=49832&PO=49832