Two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso believes that the game must be focussing on the dimensions of F1 automobiles versus the burden.
Talking just lately, FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem admitted that in placing collectively the foundations for 2026, the burden of the automobiles can be a big issue.
“One factor I want to see could be very clear, we’d like a lighter automobile,” he advised Motorsport.com. “I imagine that is higher.
“I come from motorsport, the place lighter automobiles are safer and so they will not use the identical quantity of gasoline,” he added. “It is going to be onerous to attain, however everyone desires it. So I’m pushing as a result of I come from rallying, the place nothing is worse than having a heavy automobile.”
“One of many factors that has all the time been a debate has been the burden,” agreed F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali. “As you realize, with the hybrid engines, with the batteries, the burden is getting increased and that’s one thing that isn’t actually within the nature of F1. So, it is a matter for dialogue for the longer term.”
“We preserve making these automobiles safer and safer,” mentioned Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation director, George Russell, “however clearly the heavier you make them whenever you have an effect it is like crashing with a bus in comparison with a wise automobile.
“You are going to have a higher influence in the event you’re going the identical velocity with a automobile that weights 800-odd-kgs or over 900 kgs initially of a race, in comparison with one 15 years in the past once they had been at 650 kg.”
This 12 months, the automobiles are round 203 kgs heavier than their 2008 counterparts – the 12 months earlier than KERS was first launched – and 156 kgs heavier than in 2013, the 12 months earlier than the game went hybrid.
Fernando Alonso, who made his debut in 2001, when his Minardi – and the Renault of two years later – weighed in at 595 kgs, believes it’s the dimension of the automobiles that must be addressed.
In 2001, his Minardi was 1.796 metres vast and 4.445 metre lengthy whereas this 12 months’s Aston Martin is 2 metres vast and a whopping 5.5 metres lengthy.
“I do not assume it might change a lot,” he replied, when just lately requested if lowering the burden would enhance the present and make the automobiles extra pleasing to drive.
“I feel it is extra the dimensions of the automobiles than the burden which makes issues a bit of bit tougher,” he continued, “overtaking, fights into the primary couple of corners of a race, it’s troublesome now to place the automobile, simply due to the dimensions of it, not due to the burden.
“I feel it will be actually troublesome to considerably cut back the burden due to the hybrid engines, which can all the time be heavier than regular engines, and the security on these automobiles is loads increased as nicely.
“I do know there’s some curiosity in stepping into that course, so let’s examine what they’ll do. It would all the time be welcome and it is all the time extra enjoyable to drive gentle automobiles. However on the finish of the day, it is extra the dimensions of them that makes racing a bit of bit tougher.”
“I feel the scale are fairly good,” argued Lewis Hamilton. “I fairly like the dimensions of the automobile however clearly there are some locations the place it’s tight.
“I feel it’s the weight that has undoubtedly gone too far,” he added. “Our wheels this 12 months are a ridiculous weight. And there is simply no want. We have had gentle wheels up to now, after which the automobiles, simply the braking zones are longer however I undoubtedly assume there’s some good modifications they’ll make for the longer term. It isn’t my determination, clearly.”
“The size of this automobile, most likely have an effect in locations like Monaco, the place it simply will get tougher to do racing,” mentioned Sergio Perez. “However apart from that, I do assume that the tyres, the dimensions of the automobile are most likely a bit of bit too huge.
“Though we are able to observe a bit higher, it appears a bit higher to guard, defend your place. So I’d welcome a lighter automobile as nicely however I do not assume it is a major situation to me. It is also the dimensions of the automobile that’s hurting a bit the racing facet.”
