Formula 1

Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations

Published

2 months ago

05/04/2023

Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations

The world of Formula 1 has been buzzing with excitement and anticipation over the past few years, as the sport’s top brass introduced new regulations aimed at creating a more competitive racing environment. However, Lewis Hamilton, one of the sport’s most well-known figures, has recently criticized these changes, stating that they did not deliver the promised improvements.

Lewis Hamilton has criticized the new regulations that were implemented in Formula 1 at the start of 2022, stating that they did not deliver the promised improvements that the sport’s leaders had claimed they would. The changes to the technical rules were originally supposed to be introduced in the previous year but were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite finally being launched at the start of last season, Hamilton feels that the overhaul fell short of expectations.

The main goal of the new era in Formula 1 was to encourage more competitive racing, which was to be achieved through the continuation of the budget cap and scaled aerodynamic testing that aimed to narrow the performance gap between teams. However, unexpected issues with extreme bouncing occurred during the first few months of the season, which prompted the FIA to issue a technical directive halfway through the year.

Technical directive prompts regulation change, but Ferrari drivers still struggle to follow.

As a result of the technical directive, there was a change in the regulations for the 2023 season that mandated all teams to increase the floor edges on their latest cars by 15mm. However, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Ferrari drivers expressed their opinion that it was still as challenging to follow another car as it was with the previous generation of cars.

Carlos Sainz believed that the adjustment made to the regulations to tackle the issue of porpoising was the main reason why there were fewer overtakes in the first two races compared to the previous year. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton thinks that the situation has not improved, and the new regulations have not met the anticipated expectations. When asked about the impact of the dirty air caused by the 2023 cars, Hamilton replied, “Nope, it’s the same as in the past.”

The statement made by Lewis Hamilton suggests that, in his opinion, the new regulations introduced for the 2023 season have not lived up to the expectations of the sport’s top brass. Hamilton believes that while the new rules have improved the situation slightly and reduced some of the issues associated with following cars, they have not delivered everything that was promised. Although there have been some improvements in terms of the lack of bouncing, last year’s issues with turbulence and bouncing had a negative impact on the racing. Hamilton acknowledges that there is still room for further improvement, and he hopes that the regulations will be refined in the future.

Aston Martin’s resurgence adds excitement to F1’s top teams.

Ross Brawn, who was the former F1 chief, had predicted that a midfield team would be able to win races with the new regulations that were introduced last year. However, despite these expectations, the 2023 season only saw Lando Norris from McLaren claim a podium spot at Imola, which was outside the top three teams of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull.

Although Red Bull has had a dominant start to the 2023 season, Aston Martin’s resurgence as a front-runner has increased the likelihood of another team breaking the established order. Aston Martin is currently competing with Ferrari and Mercedes for a place on the podium alongside Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. This improved performance by Aston Martin suggests that the new regulations may have created opportunities for teams outside the traditional top three to challenge for podium finishes and even race wins.

Fernando Alonso has achieved three consecutive podium finishes in the heavily revised AMR23 car, which has elevated the Aston Martin team to second place in the Constructors’ standings. This impressive performance demonstrates that the team is capable of competing with the top teams in Formula 1. The next significant overhaul of the regulations is scheduled for 2026 when there will be significant changes to both the aerodynamic and engine formulas. This major transition may bring about new challenges for teams to adapt to, and it remains to be seen how Aston Martin will fare in this new era of Formula 1.

Ross Brawn has proposed that the focus should be on creating lighter and shorter cars for Formula 1, and removing the MGU-H from power units to make them more relevant to road car technology. Following this announcement, the Volkswagen Group has expressed an interest in entering the sport, and Audi has confirmed its intention to acquire a majority stake in the Sauber-owned team, which is currently running as Alfa Romeo and will continue to do so until the end of this season. This suggests that there may be new teams entering Formula 1 in the future, which could lead to an even more competitive and exciting championship.

Volkswagen and Audi enter F1 picture as new regulations are proposed.

Porsche’s efforts to enter Formula 1 by collaborating with either McLaren or Red Bull have recently ended without success. On the other hand, Red Bull has decided to partner with Ford to work on its 2026 powertrain, marking the American carmaker’s return to the sport for the first time since 2004. Red Bull’s current partner, Honda, has expressed interest in the 2026 engine regulations, and the Japanese manufacturer claims that it has already been approached by several teams. However, Williams has announced that it will not be participating in the engine development for the 2026 season.

Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations Hamilton slams new F1 regulations for falling short of expectations