McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso sparked controversy by stating that he thinks Formula One bosses are concerned too much with helping the smaller, independent outfits survive.
Alonso, who started his F1 career at independent team Minardi, has been generally opposed to the reduction in testing the sport has seen over the last decade and the lack of wind tunnel testing available.
Currently, the teams are permitted to attend the two pre-season tests and 100KM over two days for promotional and filming purposes.
Alonso was asked by AUTOSPORT about how he would design the 2017 regulations, and the Spaniard stated:
“Bigger engines, more power, more aero, more freedom for the teams to develop and more testing.
“I guess it is something like F1 was 10 years ago maybe.
“I know sometimes it was more expensive, which I doubt because now the technology of simulators and other technology increases the cost.
“If some teams cannot afford to test, it’s their problem, it’s the nature of the sport.
“Real Madrid can buy some players and other teams cannot. They cannot say sorry for that.
“In F1 there is always the need to protect the small teams and sometimes if they cannot test, they cannot test.”
The proposed 2017 regulations are calling for more aerodynamic grip and bigger wheels, with the aim of making lap times nearly five seconds quicker than the current specifications.
The double world champion is reserved as to whether the new regulations are exactly what the sport needs, stating:
“The expectations are to have a fast F1 car because now we have a slow F1 car,” he said.
“A fast F1 car will be a better show for people watching the race.
“But to have better races, it’s difficult to know what you need.
“If you look at his year, you have maybe four or five boring races where nothing happens and then suddenly two races which are spectacular and nothing has changed.
“It’s the same cars and the same teams. Even with the circuit, one year you see a boring race and the next year it’s spectacular.”
