Alonso: Bored fans should switch off

Reuters - Thu, 25 Mar 10:24:00 2010

Twice world champion Fernando Alonso gave some advice for viewers turned off by the underwhelming spectacle of Formula One's season-opener in Bahrain: "Go watch something else!"

2010 Bahrain GP Ferrari Alonso - 0

New rules, including a ban on refuelling, were designed to inject excitement into the championship and discourage drivers from playing safe. But the plans fell flat at Sakhir, resulting in a procession decided at qualifying.

The Spaniard, who enjoyed a dream debut with new team Ferrari to lead a one-two with Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa, said the regulations must be given a chance.

"I think we need to be calm, we need to wait some races to see if the new rules have some impact in the show," Alonso said.

"Last year, (in the) first seven races, Jenson (Button) won six or seven. It was boring? Maybe yes, maybe not, this is Formula One.

"Michael (Schumacher) won five championships consecutively, it was boring? Maybe yes, maybe no, this is Formula One.

"This is about technology, about how precise everything is in terms of driver, mechanics, engineering, everything," continued Alonso.

"So people that want extra show, maybe they should reconsider whether they want to watch Formula One."

While Bahrain was a procession, Alonso said it was "not a bad race" and rather a showcase of individual battles.

"It was a fight between (Sebastian) Vettel and the two Ferraris, behind was a fight between (Nico) Rosberg and (Lewis) Hamilton in the first part, and then between Michael (Schumacher), Jenson (Button) and (Mark) Webber in the second part.

"I think we are in a part of the championship with very interesting races that are coming now. So I think after these races we will better know whether (we have) an entertaining show or not," he added.

Reuters

Comment 201 - 220 of 220

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  1. you could always get your team mate to crash, slow the­ race so you can win? just a thought

    From A, on Sat 27 Mar 0:49
  2. To jonathanbanks37, if you don't like F1, why do­ you post so many comments?
    You read the words! If you­ think it's boring, switch off, all true F1 fans­ want the sport to increase in popularity, but not­ amongst small minded peopl, stick to football or some­ other low intellect sport is my advice, on any other­ sport, I keep my thoughts to myself when in the company­ of 'fans' of the sport. Mainly because they­ know and understand more than I do!

    From Geoffrey, on Fri 26 Mar 22:47
  3. To 305 .....Die

    From Marc Thomas, on Fri 26 Mar 22:13
  4. To jonathanbanks37 on 305... probably they dont have­ the balls(if u say so) or they are not ready to die­ young. I know im not. So if u want to go kill urself on­ the road somewhere in Man...suit yourself but let the­ bike god out of it. NO talent!!u got to be joking me!!

    From Angel V, on Fri 26 Mar 19:42
  5. ok idiot big headed alfonso the clown

    From Bigusleginus, on Fri 26 Mar 15:14
  6. Wow gee-mo! You are psychic and can tell what people­ read in the article and anyone who disagrees with you­ is a sheep. The title was a direct quote by the­ big-head himself, how can that be misleading. And­ it's really all about technology? Funny, I thought­ it was a spectator sport and should be exciting - silly­ me.

    From kenny352hume, on Fri 26 Mar 12:43
  7. If the fans switch off, who pays his salary? Then the­ bonehead will really be whingeing/complaining!!!!

    From kenny352hume, on Fri 26 Mar 12:33
  8. It is sad to see that hardly anyone actually read­ Alonso's real quote, only the misleading headline.­ As a result we get a slew of reactionary posts based on­ pure conjecture not on Alonso's actual words.­

    Alonso was actually quite insightful about the state­ F1 (presently and in recent years) and yet without­ reading the true meaning of his words, many people­ start calling for a public lynching. It's easy to­ see why thoughtless masses are capable of atrocious­ crimes.

    Enjoy your life as a sheep chumps, and may­ you reap what you sew!

    From gee-mo, on Fri 26 Mar 12:24
  9. First of All - KF, his head is already bigger literally­ when you calculate the head to body ratio. But frankly­ what he says is logical. Switch channels when you think­ its boring...I found it boring long time ago. Eyes­ glued only to F1 when it rains. For me, that is the­ only element that makes more dramas. If there still was­ an excitement in F1 -I guess that would be when Slater­ is the commentator in the broadcast. Hero to Zero.­ LOL....

    From bongpogi, on Fri 26 Mar 12:15
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Never did like that whingeing, big-headed onion-peeler­ anyway. I'm sure the sponsors are absolutely­ delighted with those comments!!!!!!!!!

    From kenny352hume, on Fri 26 Mar 12:11
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Fernando Alonso your head is getting too big for you­ hat. What is F1 without its fans? Maybe arranged­ crashes?

    From KF, on Fri 26 Mar 11:25
  12. I think people are being unfair. The sport is clearly­ in a rather tight spot at the moment and is going­ through a transition period. I hope that they find a­ set of rules that look as if they will work and then­ stick to them - that way the gaps between the cars will­ narrow significantly and we can get rid of this crazy­ "loop hole" based engineering and get some­ real innovation. I thought a big part of this sport was­ supposed to be the drivers engaging with the technical­ people to push the development of the car forwards -­ surely this can only happen when there is a degree of­ stability to the rules?

    I reckon that if we give this­ season a chance, everyone will see how exciting F1 can­ be - especially when MS starts ramming everyone off the­ road to make up for his cars lack of pace like he did­ during the Bennetton (Benneton? Benetton??? However­ it's flipping well spelled!) years ;-).

    From Melrose, on Fri 26 Mar 10:59
  13. Hypocrite

    From muralisubra2001, on Fri 26 Mar 10:19
  14. Maybe Fernando Alonso said that cos he knows it's­ all fixed and maybe trying to tell us viewers something­ by lifting the lid? It depends which way you look at­ it. I honestly think F1 is boring now!! IT HAS­ NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW GOOD A DRIVER IS, BUT HOW­ RELIABLE THE CAR IS!! THEN THEY TAKE AWAY­ REFUELLING!!! i USED TO LIKE IT BEFORE WHEN RACES­ WHER WON ON PIT STOP STRATEGY...BUT NOW ITS LIKE A­ PARADE MERRY GO ROUND!! O BOY!! LISTEN EVEN­ MICHAEL SCHUMACHER QUESTIONED THE NEW RULES AND LACK OF­ OVER TAKING!!! No, I've had enough. Plus I­ don't like the BBC commentator, he sounds like a­ Kids TV Presenter!!! Plus I don't like any of­ the BBC Football commentators, they are all dead!! ­ I'm a fan of John Motson, and this years World Cup­ will not be the same without him!!! OK, sometimes he­ over does it, but for me personally, hes the voice of­ ENGLISH FOOTBALL!!

    From Harpreet, on Fri 26 Mar 8:46
  15. thanks for the advice. i´ll watch something else

    From Freakin´ Richie, on Fri 26 Mar 8:39
  16. Why not paint all the cars red, call them ferrari,­ ensure that the FIA get the back handers and change the­ rules every race? Say 12 core rules and put them in a­ saw-dust barrel. Pick out six and they will be the­ rules for that race! Then the winner will always be the­ red car, the money men will be happy and the excitement­ for the punter will be what rules!

    From Phillip, on Fri 26 Mar 8:38
  17. When FERRARI wins (and one/two) especially, for some of­ you is absolutely boring, but if that was one/ two of­ some British (or German) team could be very­ amusing.

    For johnatanbanks:
    Lets go in Stone age and­ make some F1 car with wooden chassis and stone wheels.­ It will be quite a car.
    How someone can be so ........­ to comment like this. Please don't waste space and­ our time with stupid comments like this one.

    From Dejan, on Fri 26 Mar 8:13
  18. I can understand now why kids call grown ups­ boring!!! As you grow older all you see is politics­ and money and everything is a business.....the worlds­ boring! It's not a competition anymore its all an­ advert for engineering and other things! F1 to me is­ so predictable, SO YES I WILL BE SWITCHING OFF!! F1­ IS FIXED, I have said that for years! SAME WITH­ FOOTBALL TOO, THATS BORING AND A BIG BUSINESS...NOT­ SURE IF ANYTHING EXCITES ME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE! ­ HAVE A PINT!!

    From Harpreet, on Fri 26 Mar 8:11
  19. When FERRARI wins (and one/two) especially, for some of­ you is absolutely boring, but if that was one/ two of­ some British (or German) team could be very­ amusing.

    For johnatanbanks:
    Lets go in Stone age and­ make some F1 car with wooden chassis and stone wheels.­ It will be quite a car.
    How someone can be so ........­ to comment like this. Please don't waste space and­ our time with stupid comments like this one.

    From Dejan, on Fri 26 Mar 8:11
  20. Interesting comment made by the spanish driver, sitting­ here to watch the first practice at 1.00 in the morning­ im doing fine, sunday however the hard drive is waiting­ to record the drizzle that we can come to expect so i­ can watch it in 5 minutes and not miss 3 hours sleep.

    From L, on Fri 26 Mar 8:02
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