Alonso: There is no guarantee that the top F1 teams will still be ahead of the 2022 version of the rules

Alpin F1 driver Fernando Alonso expects the new rules for 2022 to come with "many surprises" when a new generation of cars debuts in winter tests.

After a year of delays, F1 will introduce an entirely new set of rules featuring more downforce on the baseplate and therefore less reliance on clean airflow, making overtaking easier than it is now. This reform means the team shifted its focus to 2022 sooner than ever before.

The change in rules, coupled with F1's lowering of the budget cap cap, has made teams of all sizes covet the championship trophy.

Alonso said he didn't yet have information on how the Alpin car would be designed and produced next year, but he believed there would be some surprises when the car debuted. The double winner said: "We are working on next year's project, but it's still early and no one knows what the numbers are because you don't have anything to compare. So, we're all realistic and waiting for February because when everybody finds out about these cars, we're going to see a lot of surprises. We will see different philosophies and ideas, and if we see something interesting, we will become sharp and react quickly. ”

While observers point out that top teams Mercedes and Red Bull are still the best teams to make the most of the 2022 rules, Alonso believes no team can guarantee that, and a truly leading team may struggle to win the competition.

Alonso said: "Basically, I don't think any team can guarantee their future, nor do they have any feelings, and maybe even the top teams that dominate the sport right now have concerns about the new rules and how they will understand them. So next year will be an interesting year, especially for young drivers, how they decide the future. Because no one, no team, can guarantee that they will perform well. ”