Lewis Hamilton says he is disappointed with the direction Formula 1 is heading with the 2017 rules, after Pat Symonds admitted overtaking would likely be more difficult as a result of greater downforce levels.
The sport is set to undergo major changes in 2017 as F1 bosses hope to reduce lap times by between five and six seconds. However that will come at the cost of overtaking according to Symonds.
“My belief is that the more downforce you have on a car, the harder it is to follow,” said Symonds. “And this [2017] car has more downforce.”
Hamilton, who called for changes after he struggled in Brazil when he was able to catch team-mate Nico Rosberg, but unable to pass, believes the new rules prove the sports bosses “don’t know what they’re trying to solve”.
“I know they’re talking about giving us more aerodynamics which for me is like the worst idea,” he said. “And it just shows for me that they don’t really know what they’re trying to solve.
“From a driver’s point of view we want more grip from our tyres. We want less wake coming from the car in front so therefore we can get closer. Because when you’re racing, the guy in front has one hundred percent potential of the aerodynamics and the guy behind, the closer he gets, his potential deteriorates so then the advantage he did have when he was catching you initially disappears.
“That shouldn’t be the case. You should be able to – in go-karting the closer you get, you pass, and you pull away. Or you battle.”
He insists better tyres and mechanical grip would be the right way to go in future to ensure the racing remains exciting.
“So we need better tyres, we need better grip from our tyres, we need more mechanical grip. And ultimately we probably need less – maybe not less aerodynamics, but less wake so the car behind doesn’t have that turbulence. If that’s possible – I don’t even know if it’s possible.”
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