Alonso says one-shot qualifying could boost sprint race show

Fernando Alonso says a return to one-shot qualifying could help boost the action in F1's sprint races by mixing up the "natural order" of the grid.

Saturday's sprint event at Monza enjoyed a lively start but settled thereafter into a 30-minuite procession during which overtakes were few and far between.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez remains unimpressed with the innovative format that was rolled out for the first time at Silverstone earlier this summer. The Mexican labeled the races as "very boring", insisting they added nothing to the race weekend.

Alonso on the other hand felt that the short races were "good and fun" as they provided additional entertainment for the fans.

But the Spaniard admitted that a big change to Friday qualifying would perhaps improve the action on Saturday. The Alpine driver suggested that a return, for instance, to one-lap qualifying would "really add some difficulty" and upset the "natural order" of the cars.

"I still think that Friday is really the point that we need to improve," Alonso said.

"If qualifying is still six sets of tyres, we will eventually finish in the natural order of the performance of the cars. So in Saturday sprint race, we will start in our position, [and] we will finish in our position.

• Read also: Perez says 'very boring' sprint races add nothing

"While if the format in qualifying on Friday is a little bit different, just one lap or something… for example yesterday in Q2, I locked up the front tyres into Turn 1, and with that lap, I would start last today, because I made a mistake.

"I will pay the price, start last, and maybe today I have a hard job to do. There is a sense of the sprint qualifying. It will be more spicy.

"I still think the same after Silverstone after Monza. The Friday is the thing that we need to, if possible, change the natural order of the cars."

Formula 1's initiatives to try and enhance the show on the track for the fans are commendable. But Alonso reckons the sport may be trying too hard to change itself and is perhaps overly concerned with its image.

"I think Formula 1 is always pursuing an improvement that sometimes this is not needed, in a way," said the two-times world champion.

"I don’t see any other sport being so worried about making or improving the show.

"I see football, which normally is the king of sports, and there are so many games that are so boring. And the following week there is not any drama, there is not any change.

"There are not suggestions how to change the game to make the goal bigger, to play without a goalkeeper to improve the show. There are no dramas.

"The sport is at it is and Formula 1 should be happy and proud as a show because it is a very big thing."

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