Fernando Alonso backs Ferrari chief's criticism of F1 spectacle

As AUTOSPORT revealed last weekend, di Montezemolo has written to Bernie Ecclestone suggesting a meeting later this year to discuss ideas for how F1 can be improved.

Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Alonso admitted that new F1 rules introduced this year had not managed to make the sport more attractive to fans.

"I think the president is right in a way, that the show that we put on this year is not good enough in some of the races," explained the Ferrari driver.

"Also, when one team is dominating so much as Mercedes, probably the spectators prefer some more action. They liked the Canadian GP and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

"We will try to put a better show in the next races and if the teams or the fans or whatever, have any ideas, they will be welcome to have a better show."

Alonso thinks it is hard, however, to separate out improvements to boost the spectacle from the debate about costs.

He suggests that there are ideas being trialled in other sports like MotoGP that could work in F1.

"The costs are the biggest thing," he said. "All the ideas you have are closely related to the costs and it is not an easy thing.

"In my opinion KERS [deployment] should come back to our cars. We have the electric [boost] but we do not have the extra boost to help in overtaking - now we all use the same energy in the same places, so it is impossible to overtake.

"The tyres are a big thing, and a tyre competition it would mix things. We could help the small teams like in MotoGP, and give them a different tyre or fuel in the race, so maybe take an idea from other sports."

MotoGP adjusted its technical regulations for 2014 to offer rules breaks to what it classed as 'Open' non-factory teams running the series' spec ECU.

These outfits are allowed to use softer tyres and more fuel in races, and have had engine restrictions eased.