Fernando Alonso reckons drivers now risk being swamped by cars behind if they make poor starts off the grid in 2008 following the banning of electronic driver aids.

All Formula 1 teams have to run a Standard Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in their cars from this year, with its introduction resulting in the outlawing of aids such as traction control, engine braking and launch control.

Drivers will now have to use much more clutch control and handle increased wheelspin to ensure they get off the line well.

Alonso says this new challenge is likely to result in drivers losing a number of positions to the cars behind if they get away poorly.

“Now that everything is controlled manually, it’s up to the drivers,” he told reporters at Renault’s R28 launch.

“Okay, the engineers can help a little bit with some engine maps or whatever, but it’s true that the starts will be quite open.

“Before if you did a bad start you’d lose one or two places; now if you do a bad start and you have too much wheelspin maybe you lose five or six, because the difference is much more.

“So I’m really looking forward to Australia to see how the starts are for everybody.”

When launch control was reintroduced back into F1 in 2001, Renault quickly emerged as the team with the most effective system – with its drivers regularly gaining two or more positions almost immediately over several seasons.

Alonso is waiting to see whether the Anglo-French squad continues to enjoy strong starts in the new era of rules.

“We’ll see,” he said.

“I think I’ve been fast in the past because our system was better than the others.

“The Renault car used to start a little bit better than anybody else and I managed to take advantage of that system.”

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