F1 returns at Miami Grand Prix after 5 week break as FIA rolls out rule changes
Formula 1 returns to action at the Miami Grand Prix following an unexpected five-week break when a pair of races in the Middle East were called off because of the war in Iran.
The time off gave the FIA time to make changes to the regulations that drivers heavily criticised after the first three races of the year because of how the electrical battery power has changed the cars and competition.
Will it help? “It’s a tickle,” said Max Verstappen, who has been so vocal about his dislike of the current cars that he’s openly considering leaving F1.“It’s not what we need yet to really make it flat out. It’s complicated to get everyone to agree,” he continued.
“I just hope for next year we can make really big, big changes. Like I said, it’s a tickle, but it needs to be more than a tickle, for sure.”
Drivers won’t be able to truly get a feel for the changes until Friday when practice begins, so everything they have learned so far has been limited to simulator work. While the drivers were able to offer opinions on how the FIA should attack the complaints about the car, they aren’t sure how much influence they really had.
“The fact is, we don’t have a seat at the table. We do engage with the FIA and F1 more often,” said seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
“We’re not stakeholders. I say to them, when I was doing the early tests, I was like, You guys should come and speak to us and collaborate with us.’“We’re like, Speak to us, we’ll work, and we can work together.’ We want this sport to succeed. It’s like small baby steps each time.”
Verstappen acknowledged that the drivers did have quality conversations but there is room for a stronger relationship moving forward.“The positive thing about it is we have had some nice meetings with Formula 1 and the FIA and I think that’s probably like a starting point,” Verstappen said.
“In a few years time, where maybe I’m not here anymore, I’d really hope that for the future drivers as well, there’s more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general. I do think that most of the drivers here, we have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula 1 a good product, a fun product.
“I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something. But of course, it won’t change the world.”
Upgrades everywhere: The break allowed the 11 teams in the paddock to assess their season after three races and update their cars ahead of Sunday’s race. That’s another uncertainty the field is attempting to navigate.
