Alonso chassis a write-off as Ferrari push for spare car return

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has called for spare cars to be re-introduced into F1, as he claims Fernando Alonso's Monaco practice accident deprived fans of 'enjoying one of the biggest stars in qualifying'

18 May 2010

The damage done by Fernando Alonso to his race chassis during the final free practice session for last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix was sufficient to write it off altogether, Ferrari has confirmed - as the Scuderia called for spare cars to be allowed to be re-introduced into F1.

With the regulations at present stipulating that chassis' may not be swapped in-between sessions, after heftily wiping off the right-hand side of his on the approach to the famous 100mph Massenet corner on Saturday morning in the Principality, Alonso was forced to sit out qualifying due to a lack of time to carry out the necessary repairs.

A brand new chassis was hurriedly readied for the race itself the following day - with which the double F1 World Champion charged through the field from the pit-lane into a sixth-place finish - but following further investigations back at base in Maranello, it has emerged that the cracked original is in fact beyond repair.

'It was revealed that the chassis - number 283 - damaged during the accident on Saturday can no longer be used,' read a statement from the legendary Prancing Horse. 'At the moment, it remains to be seen as to which chassis' will be made available for Felipe [Massa] and Fernando for the next grand prix.'

Meanwhile, perhaps unsurprisingly, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has argued that spare cars should return to the top flight, contending that incidences such as that on Saturday spoil the show and deprive fans of some of the enjoyment factor.

"You cannot leave the spectators without the possibility of enjoying one of the biggest stars in qualifying," the Italian told Spanish newspaper Diario AS. "We will discuss it with the other teams to see if we can change [the rules]."

Spare cars were outlawed at the end of the 2007 campaign in the interests of cost-cutting, with teams now merely permitted to bring the basic shell of another car to grands prix and take parts from it to use on the original as and when they are required.