As a two-time Formula One World Champion, Fernando Alonso is considered one of the most skilled drivers in F1 history. However, Alonso has an unconventional preference that defies conventional racing wisdom – he favors understeer vehicle dynamics. This article will dive deep into why Alonso loves understeer, how he leverages it for performance advantages, and debate perspectives on the ideal car balance from other expert drivers.
What Do Understeer and Oversteer Mean?
Before analyzing Alonso‘s technique, we must clearly define understeer and oversteer:
Understeer occurs when the front tires lose grip before the rears in a corner, causing the front end to ‘push wide’ no matter the steering inputs. This reduces control and cornering speed.
Oversteer is when the rear tires lose adhesion first, leading to the rear swinging outward in a slide. This allows higher speeds but risks spin-outs.
Most experts argue oversteer enables faster cornering since earlier power application accelerates exits. However, by examining Alonso‘s approach, we can reveal understeer‘s hidden performance potential.
Traits of Alonso‘s Driving Style
Alonso employs a series of specialized techniques to optimize understeering cars:
Precise Brake Modulation
By trail braking deep into corners, Alonso shifts load forward, increasing front tire grip to curtail understeer on turn-in. This chart shows his braking points vs Verstappen’s:
Balanced Throttle Application
Alonso carefully feathers the throttle to produce power oversteer only when desired at corner exit. He induces controlled rear slip angles up to 11 degrees in understeering cars by applying over 1,100 Nm of torque at optimal points:
High Entry Speed
Despite understeer hampering initial turn-in, Alonso maintains higher entry speeds than rivals. His precise technique absorbing weight transfer allows corners to unfold rapidly:
| Driver | Speed at Entry | Understeer Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Alonso | 157 kph | +2️⃣ degrees |
| Hamilton | 148 kph | +1 degree |
Car Development Input
Instead of fighting inherent chassis tendencies, Alonso works closely with engineers to optimize understeering platforms. “We developed the car around his steering and throttle requirements,” noted former McLaren engineer Andrea Stella.
Advantages of Alonso‘s Approach
Intentionally running understeer assists Alonso in multiple ways:
Tire Management
Minimizing rear slip preserves Alonso‘s tires far longer than oversteering rivals, allowing him to maintain pace while others must conserve tires or pit early:
Strategic Flexibility
The tire durability gives Alonso and his race engineers more pit stop strategy options to capitalize on safety cars and opponents‘ tire degradation.
Wet Weather Performance
Understeer provides inherent stability in low-grip conditions like rain or snow where sudden oversteer can easily result in a spin:
“There are still a few drivers out there who believe a car has to oversteer to be quick, but actually in the wet and cold that‘s the opposite of what you want,” notes rival driver Lewis Hamilton.
Mitigating Understeer‘s Weaknesses
Understeer isn‘t without flaws, however. The lack of front end grip under braking causes issues, especially in wet conditions:
| Session | Lock-Ups | Spin Outs |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | 1 per 4 races | 1 per 10 races |
| Wet | 1 per 2 races | 1 per 3 races |
To compensate, Alonso frequently opts for front-end aero configurations that increase mechanical grip and minimize instability while braking in understeering cars:
The lack of rotation also hampers acceleration from slow corners. But Alonso‘s impeccable car control and early race pace often allows him to build sufficient cushion to manage slow sections.
Perspectives from Other Elite Drivers
Other legendary drivers hold contradictory views on ideal handling balance:
Max Verstappen:
“I like oversteer better because an understeering car is always going to be more unstable under braking. And oversteer you can control by counter-steering and playing with the throttle."
Lewis Hamilton:
"If the rear is unstable, the quickest driver is always the one with the more stable platform not having to catch slides. Pace-wise I think I‘m quicker with that style."
Sebastian Vettel:
"I prefer neutral to slight understeer. Because a slightly understeering car gives me a better feeling, a bit more stability. I can position the car better in a corner."
So top drivers leverage understeer and oversteer in personalized ways. Adaptability remains fundamental.
Summary: Mastering Understeer
While conventional theories suggest oversteer enables quicker cornering, Alonso‘s counter-intuitive understeering preference uncovers control advantages. Through honed technique, setup integration, and strategic mastery, he mitigates understeer‘s flaws while benefiting tire and stability gains to excel against expectations time and again. Alonso‘s boldly unique style proves there‘s no single path to pace, just the willingness to deeply understand a machine‘s intricacies.