Alonso, Coulthard welcome Imola changes

World champion Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's David Coulthard welcomed the changes introduced to the Imola circuit ahead of this year's race

Organisers have flattened the high kerbs at the Variante Alta chicane and have reprofiled it to make it tighter. The changes mean drivers won't be able to go through it almost straight like in the past.

Alonso believes the corner is now safer.

"I think it is a little bit slower," said Alonso. "It was straight line before and now you have like clearly two separate corners and I think it will be better.

"I think it was a little bit dangerous, you could really fly if you take the kerb last year, this year will be safe and I think it will be similar to the last corner here, it will be quite nice to drive."

Coulthard also welcome the changes.

"It's only the top chicane that has been changed," said Coulthard. "And the last chicane is exactly the same as last year. They have reprofiled the corner at the top of the hill.

"And they've taken away the big metal kerb at the top. So they've replicated the last chicane and made it a little bit tighter and the grass on the outside.

"That's a very interesting first in F1 as you always have track, kerb, grass. The rules state that the track is defined by the white lines - so you're not supposed to cross them at any time. But we all do and run on the kerbs."