Former Formula 1 drivers Damon Hill and Juan Pablo Montoya have defended the sport’s new maligned regulations cycle, with the Colombian describing his era in the sport as “so boring” amid a mooted return to V8 engines.
The sport has been under a cloud of controversy and polarising opinion since the new regulations era began, with many accusing the 50-50 hybrids of producing synthetic racing.
On top of that, concerns around safety have also been raised, with speed differences being cited as a potential increase of accidents, after Oliver Bearman’s frightening crash in Suzuka when avoiding a slowing Franco Colapinto.
Despite the regulations being ‘refined’ ahead of last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, and the subsequent improvements on show, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced a timeframe for a return to V8 engines.
But speaking after the race on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Hill dubbed the new rules “very new” and “actually quite good,” to which Montoya signalled his concurrence.
Juan Pablo Montoya and Damon Hill defended the new regulations, with the Colombian describing his time in F1 as “so boring” amid a mooted return to V8 power
“I agree. I think it’s really good,” the former Williams and McLaren driver beamed.
“Because if you see the guy’s going to pass you, you can get into recharge mode earlier, and then you have a little bit more extra energy for the next straight and you can fight your way.
“With the DRS, I always felt like you were a sitting duck. It’s a second off. A second off is a pretty decent gap, or nine tenths.
“And then at the end of the straight, the guy blew by you, and they go, ‘What an overtake!’ And I go, ‘What do you mean, what an overtake. He didn’t do anything. He was just sitting there.’”
Montoya, who raced during the V10 era and briefly at the beginning of the V8 era, tried to prick the notion of a return to V8s being a good idea in terms of bringing a better quality of racing and entertainment.
“People say, ‘Oh, your time was so good’, I say, ‘Watch a race, it’s so boring.'” he said.
“Even for us.
“It was sometimes like a short test session.”
Montoya’s assertion certainly differs from that of many current F1 drivers, including reigning World Champion Lando Norris, who said after the race to “just get rid of the battery,” adding: “Hopefully, in a few years, that’s the case.”
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