Alonso blasts critics

Spaniard hits out at bored viewers

Alonso: Has blasted Bahrain critics

So people that want extra show, maybe they should reconsider whether they want to watch Formula One.

Fernando Alonso
Quotes of the week

Fernando Alonso has told Formula One viewers to watch something else if they were turned off by the uneventful season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

The Sakhir race was reduced to a procession decided at qualifying after new regulations designed to inject excitement into the championship, including a ban on refuelling, fell flat.

But twice world champion Alonso, who led a Ferrari one-two with team-mate Felipe Massa in the Middle East, insists the rules need to be given a chance.

"I think we need to be calm, we need to wait some races to see if the new rules have some impact in the show," said Alonso.

"Last year, (in the) first seven races, Jenson (Button) won six or seven. Was it boring? Maybe yes, maybe not, this is Formula One.

"Michael (Schumacher) won five championships consecutively, was it boring? Maybe yes, maybe no, this is Formula One.

"This is about technology, about how precise everything is in terms of driver, mechanics, engineering, everything.

"So people that want extra show, maybe they should reconsider whether they want to watch Formula One."

Procession

Despite the procession in Bahrain, Alonso insists it was "not a bad race", and is expecting more from upcoming events, including this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

"It was a fight between (Sebastian) Vettel and the two Ferraris, behind was a fight between (Nico) Rosberg and (Lewis) Hamilton in the first part, and then between Michael (Schumacher), Jenson (Button) and (Mark) Webber in the second part," he said.

"I think we are in a part of the championship with very interesting races that are coming now. So I think after these races we will better know whether (we have) an entertaining show or not."