Fernando Alonso Rips Suzuka Apart, Compares It to Boring Monaco Grand Prix
Spanish racing legend Fernando Alonso did not hold back in his scathing criticism of the Suzuka circuit, likening it to the notoriously uneventful Monaco Grand Prix. The two-time Formula 1 world champion expressed his frustration at the lack of overtaking opportunities at Suzuka, claiming that races at the circuit are often decided during Saturday’s qualifying session.
The recent Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka failed to deliver the excitement fans had hoped for, with Max Verstappen clinching victory from pole position in a race marred by a lack of on-track action. Alonso’s disappointment with Suzuka mirrors the sentiment commonly associated with the Monaco Grand Prix, where the procession-like nature of the race often results in limited overtaking.
Alonso, who finished in 11th place driving for Aston Martin, criticized the predictability of races at Suzuka, stating, “This is Suzuka, I don’t remember a race when we saw too many overtakes here without the weather changing.” The veteran driver emphasized the contrast between the hype surrounding the circuit and the underwhelming race-day performances, drawing parallels with the situation at Monaco.
As Formula 1 grapples with the challenge of enhancing the spectacle at certain circuits, concerns have been raised about the sport becoming a “quali world championship.” Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur highlighted the trend of races being determined by qualifying results rather than on-track battles, a worrying pattern evident in both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
The debate over the lack of overtaking opportunities has intensified as teams continue to exploit loopholes in regulations aimed at promoting closer racing. The 2025 season has seen a decrease in overtaking maneuvers compared to previous years, with all four races thus far being won from pole position.
Despite the criticisms leveled at Suzuka and the current state of Formula 1 racing, Alonso urged fans to focus on the positives of the sport. Reflecting on the Japanese Grand Prix, he remarked, “Maybe one stop was not the race that we were hoping for. In the past with multiple stops, maybe the tyres are different but when we don’t have grip, we complain that there is no grip and when we have too many stops.”
As the F1 calendar progresses, with the Bahrain Grand Prix kicking off a triple-header followed by Saudi Arabia, the spotlight remains on the need for more thrilling on-track battles and unpredictable outcomes to reignite the excitement among fans and drivers alike.
