F1 Drivers Not Expecting Significant Enhancements Following Regulation Changes

      Clive Mason

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      The primary discussion point at the Miami Dolphins Stadium, or as some prefer to call it, the Miami International Autodrome, on Thursday was the recent regulatory changes implemented by the FIA. While Formula 1 drivers across the paddock made it clear that the full impact of these changes wouldn't become evident until they tested the cars on Friday, they weren't anticipating any major enhancements.

      “I guess it’s just a slight adjustment,” Max Verstappen told the press. “It’s not sufficient for us to really go full throttle yet. But getting everyone on the same page is complex. I just hope for next year we can implement really significant changes.

      “The bright side is that we had productive discussions with Formula 1 and the FIA,” he added. “I believe that's a promising starting point for the future.”

      Hector Vivas via Getty

      Lewis Hamilton, who has been somewhat more reserved on this topic than his peers, echoed Verstappen's sentiments, emphasizing the need for drivers to have a greater involvement in the regulatory process.

      “All the drivers collaborate, and we meet regularly—but the reality is we don’t have a seat at the table,” Hamilton stated. “We do communicate with the FIA and Formula 1; F1 tends to be a bit more receptive. However, since we’re not stakeholders—we lack a voice at the table, which I believe needs to be addressed. I tell them that when I did the Pirelli [tire] test, ‘you folks should engage with us and collaborate, as we don’t want to criticize the Pirelli tires; we recognize you can create a good product.’

      “But their feedback often comes from those who have never driven a car. Talk to us, and we can collaborate closely to reach the FIA for better outcomes. And similarly with F1: ‘we’re here to partner with you. We don't want to disparage our sport; we want it to thrive, and that requires collaboration.’ However, it feels like we’re on a loop—you keep repeating it, and progress is slow. But I firmly believe we are on the same page.”

      Bradley Collyer via Getty

      I provided a straightforward explanation of the recent regulatory changes, which you can find here. You will see that, while the adjustments are significant, they mainly consist of surface-level modifications intended to enhance certain aspects of the racing spectacle. The focus is primarily on energy management and deployment. Therefore, since there are no substantial hardware changes and the FIA is unlikely to implement anything drastic (which I actually think is a wise choice), no one should anticipate a huge shift come race day, or during the Sprint race on Saturday, for that matter.

      “I think it’s heading in the right direction,” Audi’s Gabi Bortoleto told the media on Thursday. “They have acted on the drivers’ requests. Still, we obviously need to get to the track and see how it impacts the car. Ultimately, we can only provide a proper answer once we’ve driven on Friday, and I believe we will notice a difference. But honestly, I don’t expect drastic changes. I think the modifications are modest but beneficial.”

      Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, one of the most seasoned drivers in terms of race participation, supported his teammate’s remarks regarding the adjustments, while also highlighting that the changes were primarily instigated to enhance safety, with performance being a secondary consideration. He explained that although many have claimed that other series like WEC or IMSA utilize similar energy strategies, the extreme speed of F1 cars necessitated adjustments to prevent further incidents like the one involving Oliver Bearman in Suzuka.

      Stephanie Tacy, Kym Illman via Getty

      “The [adjustments] appear to be a step in the right direction, particularly concerning safety and the safety concerns linked to the high closing speeds,” Hulkenberg remarked. “When one car operates at full power and another has no electric power left, it creates a significant speed differential, which can lead to accidents, as we witnessed in Japan, and that poses a risk. Some of these changes are aimed at that and also at enhancing the quality of racing—making it easier for drivers to return to a more traditional style, allowing them to push without penalty for overstepping.

      “In endurance racing, it's in the nature to have varied categories, but they don’t directly compete against each other since they are different classes,” he added. “Sometimes they can interfere with each other, leading to incidents. I believe it’s somewhat different for us [in F1].”

      With a Sprint race scheduled for Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday, there will be multiple chances to observe the extent of the changes’ impact on each team.

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