Record world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken about Formula 1’s new regulations. The Ferrari star is particularly unhappy with the influence of energy management and software.
Lewis Hamilton has voiced strong criticism of Formula 1’s new regulations. The Ferrari driver is particularly frustrated by the complex energy management required with the current cars. In his view, taking risks behind the wheel can sometimes even be punished.
“It’s really difficult for the fans to fully understand and it’s difficult for us as well,” Hamilton explained during a conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson on the “StarTalk” podcast.
After all, the fundamental goal of a Formula 1 driver is clear: “When you drive a Formula 1 car, you want to push the car to the limit. The faster you go through a corner, the faster you should hopefully be compared to the others.”
Ferrari ace Hamilton criticises energy management
However, Hamilton says that is not always the case with the new cars. Due to the limited amount of electrical energy available, drivers have to carefully manage when to recharge the battery and when to deploy the additional power.
“We have fewer opportunities to recharge this year because the MGU-H is gone,” Hamilton explained. This leads to an unusual situation: “If you are faster and more committed through high-speed sections, take more risks and carry more speed through a corner, you are then punished afterwards because you haven’t recovered enough energy.”
More News
Could Refuelling Return to Formula 1? FIA President Clarifies
The new energy management requirements have already led to some unusual battles this season. Drivers can repeatedly overtake with ease on one straight, only to become vulnerable themselves shortly afterwards due to their energy status. This kind of “yo-yo racing” has been particularly noticeable on circuits with high energy demands.
Software also plays a major role. If it does not work properly, drivers can lose valuable tenths of a second due to technical factors. “It’s really frustrating because we didn’t have that in the past,” Hamilton made clear.
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE!
THIS IS F1-Insider.com!
