Testing days not enough

Teams are not allowed to test until next month, with the season beginning in early March, meaning, at best, a driver will get some seven or eight days of testing before the first race.

Only relatively inexperienced young drivers were allowed to take part in the final test of 2009 in December.

Alonso reckons seven days of testing is simply not enough to get ready for the start of the season.

"I think the test ban is not an easy thing to solve," Alonso told reporters during Ferrari's media event in the Dolomites.

"For sure the seven or eight days before the championship are not enough for any driver. It doesn't matter if you are new to a team or if you are at the same team as last year.

"I think there is no other sport in the world where you test for seven days before the championship. I cannot imagine a tennis player testing seven times before Roland Garros, or a football player training seven days before a world cup, so this is something strange in our sport.

"If it's the best for the future and for saving costs we are happy, because it's what they think it's best."

The Spaniard also downplayed the significance of Michael Schumacher's test in a GP2 car this week, as he reckons it will not give the German an advantage.

"Michael's test, the GP2 car is so different that it's not a very good reference," he said. "For him, after some years out of the car, to do this test is good, to check that everything is okay and that he is comfortable driving.

"I think there's nothing wrong or against the regulations. It's just a test in a GP2 car and if he's allowed I think it's okay."