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Fernando Alonso says there are "more amateur" drivers in Formula 1 than in the World Endurance Championship after his crash with Lance Stroll in the United States Grand Prix.

Alonso was hit by Williams driver Stroll as they approached the esses on the opening lap, with the contact causing heavy damage to the McLaren, which retired after returning to the pits.

Stroll was able to continue and was given a drive-through penalty for causing the crash. Alonso, who was also involved in an incident with Stroll in Japan, hit out at the FIA for not doing enough to stop such driving.

"I'm not upset - I'm disappointed because I'm here [for] nine days in the US to do a race and I do 600 meters of the race and they push you off," said Alonso, who races in the WEC with Toyota.

"That's the way it is, but it's more a problem for the FIA if they keep allowing this type of driving. I drive in another series with amateur drivers, theoretically, and there has never been a problem.

"There are more amateurs here than in other series.

Disappointed race. Only 600 meters before getting hit from behind. Watching now the replays not much anyone could do, too many cars together into T4 ?‍♂️. Just that?. Just unlucky today. Now focus, preparation, and let's hope this brings a nice result in Mexico next week. — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) October 21, 2018

He added: "Maybe when there's a big crash they will do something.

"Until then we'll try to have fun in other categories where we race against 34 cars, against amateur people, against 60-year-old men and nothing ever happens.

"Here we need bumpers, like rental go-karts, so we can all crash into each other."

The two-time world champion, who is retiring from F1 at the end of the year, says the level of the drivers currently competing in the championship is lower than it was in the past.

When asked if F1 racers drive more aggressively than in the WEC, he said: "No, the level is lower.

"I race in the WEC and they are very aggressive as well and we have three different categories there - some amateur drivers in the GT-Am, but no one crashes into each other. There's another mentality.

"Sometimes you make a mistake or you try to take a risk at the start, or you can overshoot your braking point or make a mistake.

"But it's like Spa, where you start and suddenly they are playing bowling with you.

"Here again, you start and they play bowling with you and you have the bad luck of having to retire."