Listen to this article
In the wake of penalties given out to Alonso and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in the opening two races of the season for starting outside their markers, the FIA has widened the grid boxes in Melbourne.
But despite an extra 20cm of space, plus the trial of a new guidance line to help drivers line up, Alonso is sceptical of them being enough to assist with the difficulties being faced.
In particular, he says that drivers face the double whammy of seeing very little as they line up in position while also having to be totally focused on a separate yellow line that they cannot start in front of.
“It is difficult and we are very concentrated on the yellow line to not go too far forward,” he said.
“So, you approach not looking at the box, you are looking on one side of the cockpit. So maybe that’s a bit of a distraction.”
Asked if the new dimension and sighting line would be a help, Alonso said: “The central line? I don’t think …