Carlos Sainz has urged the FIA to “rethink” the new regulations after calling the latest generation of the sport “not Formula 1 the way I want to see it.”
Two races into the sport’s latest era, opinions are divided amongst fans and the drivers alike with respect to the new rule-set.
One of the biggest criticisms the regulations reset has attracted is on the all-new power unit side of things.
The opening race at Melbourne saw ‘superclipping’ taking over the place of porpoising as the buzz word for this particular generation of cars with the engines going into an aggressive harvesting mode at the end of long straights.
At the Shanghai International Circuit, last weekend, the effect of this phenomenon was subdued, or so it would seem.
Over the weekend, fans spotted an alleged manipulation of the telemetry graphics. Sainz has now called the sport out for “trying to do their best to sell something” that the fans don’t want.
“When you look at what they are doing with graphics and everything, they are trying to do their best to sell something that I think we all know is not the right formula for Formula 1,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“So, I’m really hoping that there’s going to be changes soo, because it’s not the best formula.
“But as long as everyone is aware, I think it’s ok for everyone to not get it completely right at the start of a season, and then make adjustments to ensure it gets better.”
Legacy circuits could expose F1’s latest gimmick – Sainz
The move into the latest engine formula was a concerted effort by the sport to embrace sustainable mobility and attract the likes of Ford and Audi.
At least on that count, F1 has succeeded. But the inherent characteristics of this power unit rule-set has imposed a concerning reality for the upper echelons of F1’s management, Sainz believes.
Legacy tracks like Spa-Francorchamps and Monza could derail the racing spectacle with cars completely running out of power in the current state of affairs.
“I think in a track like China they are not that bad, because we are very energy-rich and harvesting-rich, which means the engines don’t behave… they behave very differently to last year, but not as different as they did in Melbourne,” Sainz explained.
“I think in Melbourne, Monza, Spa, it definitely needs a rethink. I think development will also do its part. But I’m also 100% sure this is not F1 the way I want to see it.
“And I’m also quite sure that the people at the top also see that and know that.”
Engine-imposed reliability woes not a good look for F1 says Sainz
The Chinese GP saw both the McLarens suffer a double DNS.
Lando Norris couldn’t even make it out for his installation lap with Oscar Piastri wheeled back into the garage, only minutes away from the formation lap, with both suffering different but suspected electronics issues.
Williams and Audi also suffered from reliability issues throughout the weekend, with Alex Albon and Gabriel Bortoleto also registering a DNS, respectively. Sainz says constant grounding of cars in the garage is also not a good look on the sport when it is generally considered the pinnacle of technology and innovation.
“For sure, it’s not a great look for F1,” he asserted.
“I think not having two McLarens, a Williams, and Audi, shows how difficult we make our life to come up with super complicated engines with incredibly complicated software and batteries.
“It’s still down to the teams to come up with a reliable engine, but when the rules are so demanding and so constrained, it is difficult to come up with something reliable because it is extremely complex for everyone.
“I don’t know. I have in mind what the ideal Formula 1 should be, and this is very far from it. At the same time, I hope that development and fine-tuning the regulations should make things better in the future.”
The FIA has insisted, however, that they are in constant communication with the drivers and teams to address the issues raised. But will a remedy come in time to save the sport’s image?
READ MORE – McLaren launches investigation as Lando Norris/Oscar Piastri F1 DNS cause revealed
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