Formula One rule tightening brings chuckles from champion Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1 Witnesses Lewis Hamilton's Criticism Over Flexi-Wings Rule Tightening
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has voiced his criticism over the recent tightening of rules on flexi-wings, which were enforced at the Spanish Grand Prix. The FIA, the governing body, implemented stricter load tests for front wings, aiming to limit their flexibility and curtail any potential aerodynamic advantages.
In an interview after the qualifying round, Hamilton labeled the rule clampdown as "a waste of money," asserting that the changes made little difference to the competitive order, especially among the leading teams like McLaren, the team suspected to be most affected.
McLaren's drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, continued to dominate in Barcelona, as they had done before the rule adjustments. "It didn't change anything at all," said Ferrari driver Hamilton. "All wings still bend, just not as much. Everyone had to develop new wings and spend money. It doesn't make sense."
Hamilton further pointed out that while the new regulations made cars feel less balanced, they did not hinder the leading teams' performance. Teams have spent on new wing designs unnecessarily, without any noticeable effect on the standings.
Max Verstappen, another driver, suggested that the changes would only slightly affect car balance, not leading to significant gains or losses for any team. If a car is fundamentally strong, minor adjustments to the front wing would be manageable.
As the race approaches, Hamilton admits that he lacks "half a second" to catch up to championship leaders Piastri and Norris. Months of work go into developing to find a tenth of a second, he said, but finding half a second seems unattainable.
In Barcelona, the MCL39 is still superior to the other cars, suggesting that the rule change has not significantly altered the competitive landscape. Hamilton urges teams to spend their resources more sensibly within the sport.
Lewis HamiltonFormula 1Ferrari (Formula-1)McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton, voicing his concerns about the tightening of flexi-wings rules, explained that the changes made little difference in sports racing, such as Formula One, especially for leading teams like McLaren and Ferrari.
- Hamilton also pointed out that the new regulations, while impacting car balance in auto-racing, have not significantly hindered the performance of the leading teams, causing him to question the necessity of the changes in sports like Formula One.
