Fernando Alonso has countered George Russell's recent criticism of the current Pirelli tyres in Formula 1, presenting a different perspective on the issue.
Russell, a Mercedes driver, had slammed the inconsistency of the tyres, even suggesting that Pirelli "doesn't understand them."
However, Alonso pointed out that while some teams struggle with the Pirelli tyres, others, such as McLaren, are thriving. "We believe that all the tyres are the same," said the Aston Martin driver.
"I think it depends more on the car. Some cars are historically quite fast on the harder tyre compounds, and vice versa."
The two-time champion explained that when performance issues arise, teams rely on data from sensors to detect subtle differences in the car's behavior. "When we go into the details, we look at the countless sensors and then notice small differences when the car is slow," the Spaniard revealed. "We then try to make changes so that the car is happy again."
Alonso also suggested that the current generation of ground-effect cars has contributed to the recent lack of safety car incidents. "These cars are not easy to drive," he said. "The problems arise when you try to get the most out of the car.
"If you only drive at 90 percent, you are less likely to push the limits and the risk of accidents is smaller."
Although he acknowledges that tyre performance can be puzzling, particularly during qualifying sessions, Alonso cited the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix as an example. "Baku was a very good example," he said. "In Q1 I was fifteenth, and seven minutes later I was fifth fastest in Q2 on the same compound of tyres.
"Other drivers did the opposite – very fast in Q1 and very slow in Q2. Sometimes there is just no explanation for that."
Alonso added that this unpredictability has led to a more conservative approach during races. "That's why we take fewer risks in the races," he explained. "We all drive at 90 percent and we pay attention to the tyres and fuel consumption. That's why we don't have many problems and we rarely see safety cars.
"The cars just respond better when you drive at that speed. It's a bit against the instincts of the driver," Alonso conceded, "but with these cars you just have to deal with that."
