Fernando Alonso’s Scathing Critique: Las Vegas Grand Prix Track “Not F1 Standard”!
In a stunning display of honesty, two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has unleashed a fierce critique of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, deeming the track surface as “not Formula 1 standard” and raising serious concerns about the race’s precarious position on the calendar after finishing a disappointing 13th.
Starting the race in a promising seventh position on the vibrant Las Vegas Strip, Alonso quickly found himself slipping down the ranks due to early race damage. While he brushed aside concerns about the challenges of following other cars, his disdain for the track surface was unmistakable. “The race circuit is fun, because it’s high speed, but I think the type of asphalt is not Formula 1 standard,” he declared, not holding back on the harsh reality drivers faced. “To be honest, it’s too slippery and we cannot put the tyres in temperature and there is no grip. It’s extremely bumpy, at the limit of being safe to race.”
Alonso’s passionate remarks have sparked a call for urgent dialogue with the FIA, the sport’s governing body, to reassess whether the current conditions are acceptable for future races. “So I think for the future we need to talk with the FIA if this is acceptable or not for the following years,” he urged.
But that’s not all—Alonso is also voicing major concerns about the timing of the Las Vegas race, which is held as a night event in late November. This race marks the beginning of a grueling final trio of races for the season, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi following in rapid succession. “To come here with the time difference and how far it is from Europe and Brazil two weeks ago and we go to Qatar now straight, and it’s a 17-hour plane and 13 hours’ time difference. I don’t think any other sport in the world will accept that,” he lamented. “So, I mean, circuit okay, asphalt and moment in the calendar, for me it’s not, yeah, borderline.”
When asked if relocating the Las Vegas event to a different time of year could alleviate some of these pressures, Alonso was open to the idea. “Yeah, yeah, maybe,” he responded thoughtfully. “I mean, I think I heard that we do it now because it’s the quiet weekend of the year for Vegas, but we cannot do things like that. If not, we will go to Monaco in February, because it’s quiet, you know, but there are certain things that we need to think about the sport first.”
As the F1 community grapples with these critical issues, Alonso’s candid feedback may serve as a turning point for the sport. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a spectacle, but if it fails to meet the rigorous standards expected in Formula 1, it could jeopardize not just the racers, but the very integrity of the sport itself. The call to action is clear—will the FIA heed Alonso’s urgent plea for change, or will we continue to see races held on tracks that fall short of the legendary F1 legacy? The world is watching.
