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Formula 1
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New radio restrictions for 2016 are 'strange' - Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso claims Formula 1's new clampdown on radio traffic is "strange" and will not make a dramatic difference to the racing

The FIA will severely restrict the messages allowed between the pitwall and drivers as part of a raft of F1 rule changes for 2016.

The governing body hopes this will force competitors to be better prepared for the race and make F1 more challenging for the drivers.

But double world champion Alonso does not have high hopes for the new rules.

"I don't think it's going to change much," he said.

"There is quite a limited amount of things we can talk [about] over the radio now, or we can receive from the team.

"We can [still] talk as much as we want, but with no answers, I guess.

"It's strange sometimes the direction we are going in an era of communication and technology, that Formula 1 tries to restrict that thing, which is probably not a normal way to go.

"But I don't think it will give the driver a bit more power on the season, or a bit more influence on the race itself.

"Because of those limitations the strategy for the race, or the preparation for the race, will be much more strict, and the discipline we will have to have in the car will be much higher, but actually the driver will have less room to decide things."

Alonso was also dismissive of the possibility of forcing the drivers to work harder and operate more on instinct during a race.

"We had that possibility before, that instinct of feeling something in a race when something was happening," Alonso added.

"We tried input into the strategy, or tried to give information to the team, but now we cannot have that conversation or debate. We'll miss it

"Instead of instinct from the driver, we will follow what we agreed two hours before the race."

Renault driver Kevin Magnussen is also against the radio changes, describing them as unnecessary.

"I don't really see the point, but there we are," he said.

"It would be nice to just focus on racing. I'm not sure these changes will help that.

"There are so many things you will have to remember. It's just frustrating.

"The point was to get us to focus on racing, but now we're less focused on racing because we have to remember everything.

"It will just mean if the dashboard isn't working correctly you will get it wrong. I don't think that's really necessary."

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