F1: Alonso calls for new tire war

Fernando Alonso has called on Formula 1 to allow the return of a tire war if it wants to again spice up the show and entertain the fans.

In the wake of the Strategy Group's proposals last Thursday for stemming the tide of supporters turning off the sport, Alonso feels he has the answer.

"Tire competition will help Formula 1 because everyone will again push to the limits," said the double world champion. "I experienced tire competition for some years with Michelin and Bridgestone, and after that we had a single tire with Bridgestone, and the change was quite big.

"In 2006, the tires were amazing from both companies because they pushed each other to the limits, and we had a super-fast tire on which you could do a whole race distance in 2005. Then in 2007, only with Bridgestone, the tires were completely different. At that time they took a step backwards and relaxed a little bit.

"You could still push on those tires because they had some experience and technology from tire competition. That would be good for Formula 1. For strategy you could have a tire that is good in qualifying, bad in the race, or vice versa.

"Some circuits would maybe suit one company, other circuits the other company, so it would mix up the results, and people will work on that."

Current tire supplier Pirelli's F1 contract expires at the end of 2016, prompting Michelin to suggest it would return, albeit only if it could run much harder rubber and on 18-inch rims.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told AUTOSPORT last week Michelin should not bother submitting a bid as he did not want tires "you could put on in January and take off in December".

ALONSO WARY OF F1 GOING BACKWARD

McLaren star Alonso at least welcomed the idea of refueling, as is currently being looked at for a return in 2017, dependent on costs.

"It would open up imagination on strategy," added Alonso. "It could help you in a race if you could choose whatever [amount of] fuel on which to start or to do the first stint. Things like that that helped in the past.

"I remember getting some pole positions in 2003 using half the fuel of the others, and then you see what happened.

"For the first 10 laps of a race you lead the group and then it may rain, or you may have a safety car. Many things could happen that could change the weekend.

"Now, if you give me a piece of paper I will give you the grid order for Monaco, Canada and Austria, and I will miss one or two positions, and this is probably what the fans are not welcoming now."

However, with the likely rule changes, Alonso feels F1 would be taking a step back in time.

"If things come back we will get some kind of rules from seven or eight years ago, which means the last four or five years we've been going in the wrong direction," said Alonso.

Asked as to whether F1 has been heading in the wrong direction, Alonso replied: "The grandstands tells us."

Suggested to Alonso he should be involved in the Strategy Group, he joked: "I'm too radical. You need some common sense there."

Originally on Autosport.com