Alesi critical of Formula 1 technology

Speaking exclusively at the AUTOSPORT International show, Alesi reiterated his belief that electronic driver aids, such as traction and launch control, which returned to F1 last April, are taking too much away from driver skill.

"The cars are very important and the level of technology is massive," said Alesi. "As a driver you have less chance to make the difference. When the circuit is wet, or half wet and half dry, you have so much control of the car by the electronic system. You have no chance to make an improvement [as a driver]. That is what I am saying is the darker side of F1."

The Frenchman, who will compete in the German DTM championship with Mercedes this year, brought his F1 career to an end in 2001 after not being retained by the Jordan team. But despite the curtain coming down on his driving career in F1, the veteran of 201 GPs is still passionate about the sport and believes something needs to be done.

"The FIA [motorsport's governing body] have very good technical people and they are looking all the time about how to improve Formula 1," he said. "They have improved safety a lot both in the circuits and the cars, but for sure they need to find a solution to make the cars easier to overtake."

Alesi was also critical of the speeds reached at the super-fast circuits on the F1 calendar and despite massive improvements in safety during his 12-year career, the 37-year-old would like to see the cars going slower.

"I think the speed is too high," said Alesi. "Because there are two circuits, Hockenheim and Monza, and I remember at Monza [last year] I was doing 224mph, which is too much for Formula 1. When you watch on TV or at the circuit, you cannot tell the difference between 220 and 195."