Formula 1 drivers are no longer getting the satisfaction they used to because the cars aren’t challenging – mentally or physically – to drive in the modern age, according to David Coulthard.
In Canada, a number of drivers, including world champions Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, were warned that they needed to conserve fuel and therefore were unable to push their cars to the limit.
This is becoming increasingly common and it’s not something the drivers enjoy having to do, warned Coulthard.
“The sport has gone from the bucking bronco cars driven by Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, to an exercise in systems management which Fernando Alonso likened to piloting airliners,” the 13-time race winner told BBC Sport.
“The sad reality is that the drivers are not enjoying the current F1. They are just not tested sufficiently.
“Of course, the cars are hard to drive. They remain the fastest and most sophisticated racing cars in the world. But they are not difficult enough.”
Alonso recently stated that over the last decade he hasn’t been tested mentally or physically in F1, whilst Hamilton said his Canada win wasn’t difficult despite being chased by team-mate Nico Rosberg for the entirety of the race.
Coulthard believes this is turning fans away and something therefore must be done to reverse falling viewing figures.
“F1 has to be sexy and have a frisson of danger,” he added. “At the moment, it is in danger of losing that aspect.
“It is no secret that in some countries F1 is losing its audience. I can’t believe that is a coincidence.
“You don’t want drivers to be managing software systems, being engineers in the car and worrying constantly about managing fuel and tyres.”
Discussion about this post