Lewis Hamilton came to the defense of the new Formula 1 cars and pushed back against the criticism made by several drivers regarding this season’s changes. The seven-time champion stated that the current models provide better racing and are the most fun he has driven in two decades in the category.
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Formula 1 introduced a major package of changes for this year, with significant alterations to aerodynamics and power units. The modifications also impacted how drivers extract performance, with a greater focus on recovery and energy use during races.
This new scenario brought challenges, especially in direct battles, as after an overtake, drivers may find it difficult to maintain the position due to a depleted battery. The dynamic generated criticism and was compared to the so-called ‘yo-yo effect’, when cars frequently swap positions.
Hamilton, however, disagreed with this view and pointed out that this type of battle has always been common in karting, without receiving criticism: “If you go back to Karting, it’s the same thing. People go back and forth, you can never pull away,” the Briton stated.
The Ferrari driver also highlighted that this behavior was never seen negatively in other categories: “No one has ever referred to karting as yo-yo racing,” he added, reinforcing his defense of the new racing format in Formula 1.
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Now in his 20th season in the category, Hamilton stated that he has experienced several regulation changes throughout his career. According to him, the current generation of cars presents an important advantage over previous ones, especially in the ability to follow opponents in high-speed corners.
“It’s the best form of racing, and Formula 1 hasn’t been the best form of racing for a long, long time,” he stated. For the seven-time champion, the possibility of following competitors closely represents a significant step forward for the spectacle.
Hamilton also highlighted that this characteristic is unprecedented in his experience in the category: “Of all the cars I’ve driven in twenty years in F1, this is the only one where you can follow in high-speed corners without completely losing everything you have, and you can stay behind,” the experienced driver concluded.
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