Alonso suggests 'extreme idea' for new format F1 sprint weekend

While some drivers express concern over the lack of practice time ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso would prefer to scrap free practice altogether from the Formula 1 weekend. So says Aston Martin ambassador and former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa.

Formula 1 is preparing to return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time in five years, where the revised sprint format will be used for the first time. This year, qualifying for the main race will no longer take place on Friday, but after the sprint race on Saturday. On Friday, the first free practice and sprint shootout will be held.

A number of drivers, including Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, have expressed concerns about the lack of time to get to grips with the Shanghai International Circuit after its long absence. Alonso does not share those concerns, according to his colleague De la Rosa.

"Fernando actually what he would like is to go directly into qualifying," the former F1 driver told the F1 Nation podcast. "He sometimes mentioned it. He doesn’t need to warm-up, he doesn’t need another set of tyres to go faster, it’s just bang, the first lap, that’s it, that’s the fastest he will be the whole weekend because he doesn’t need to get up to speed."