Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1 drivers can’t be blamed for boring races and hopes matters change in the future in the wake of a soporific Belgian Grand Prix.
The front-runners all maintained positions throughout the race and ran identical Medium/Hard tyre strategies, stopping when the Safety Car was deployed a quarter of the way into proceedings.
The main battle for position was over fifth place, with Esteban Ocon eventually prevailing over Alexander Albon during the closing stages.
“They allow us to do these one-stops and you lose so much time in the pit stops so it wasn’t that exciting to have to manage to go the distance every time,” said Hamilton.
“It’s not something I particularly enjoy. You want to be able to attack, and push-push-push-push-push, do a stop, push-push-push.
“Ultimately, this is not what fans… and I hope that people need to hopefully understand that this isn’t our fault.
“At the end of the day we’re drivers, we’ve come through all the ranks, we’ve earned the positions that we have and we come in weekend in, weekend out, devoted and give absolutely everything to go out there and perform at our best.
“Ultimately the decision makers who design the cars, who set rules and those kind of things, are the ones that you could apply pressure to [in order] to ultimately do a better job moving forwards, if that’s possible.
“I’m hopeful that’s what they’re going to do in 2022 and with that new type car, maybe we’ll see a different form of racing where you can follow. Wouldn’t that be something if we can follow closer and have more close races?”
Sunday’s race marked Hamilton’s first Belgian Grand Prix win since 2017, when he beat Sebastian Vettel, having missed out in close fights with Ferrari in the past two years.
“Of course, I would love to have a real race,” said Hamilton. “I’ve definitely had races in the past here which are a little bit closer, trying to follow the Ferrari and stay on top of them but they could overtake because they had all that extra power.
“I hope the next races, we have the… I think the Red Bulls have improved. I really hope that we have more of a race because I think everyone wants to see us all battling together.”
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