George Russell defends modern F1: “There are many positives in the new rules”. George Russell has defended the current Formula 1 regulations.

Contrary to the criticism from other drivers, the Mercedes driver has highlighted the aspects that make the new era of Formula 1 exciting.

Supporters and critics

The new technical regulations, which will be in place from the next Miami Grand Prix, have generated mixed opinions among drivers.

Sergio Pérez, for example, has been strongly critical of Formula 1, arguing that it has become difficult to understand both for drivers and engineers, in contrast with statements made by F1 President Stefano Domenicali.

At the same time, however, there are other drivers who have defended the new technical rules and recent innovations, starting with George Russell. The Australian Grand Prix winner has distanced himself from the criticism surrounding modern F1, stating that he feels comfortable with the new cars:

“We only remember the positive aspects of certain things and, at the moment, we tend to focus on the negative ones. Yet there are many positive aspects in these new regulations and in the new cars,” he said in an interview with the BBC.

“Personally, I’m really enjoying the car. The power unit and the engine are quite different, and it only needs a few small adjustments to be fully optimised. But it has given me the opportunity to race more and to have much closer battles.”

No ‘Mario Kart’ F1

Russell also echoed the views of his compatriot Lewis Hamilton, another driver who has spoken positively about this season’s cars:

“Now we are on a go-kart track, and Lewis made a very sharp observation: in a kart race, if you overtake in a corner, the other driver overtakes you back. And so on. Nobody calls it Mario Kart, or yo-yo racing, or anything like that. We call it pure racing and incredible racing.

Anyone who thinks drivers slow down in corners just to be faster on the straights is wrong. There are some peculiarities that the FIA has tried to remove. These are quite complex details and, frankly, fans don’t need to understand them.

From this race onwards, with these small changes that Formula 1 is introducing, it will be easier for us. We will be at full speed on the straights during qualifying laps and we won’t have to lift off the throttle to manage energy.”

F1 yesterday and today

In conclusion, the Mercedes driver added another positive element of modern racing, focusing on the increased number of overtakes compared to the past:

“I remember watching Formula 1 twenty years ago and hearing the sound of the engines, it was incredible, but I didn’t see a single overtake. That was probably the purest Formula 1 we have ever seen. But the race was boring.

I think we tend to remember only the positive aspects of certain things. And in the present, we prefer to focus on the negative aspects. Yet there are many positive aspects in these new regulations and in the new cars.

I spoke with a Formula 1 driver from the 1980s and 1990s, a multiple race winner, and he told me they had a ‘boost’ button that gave them 300 extra horsepower, but at the end of the straight, when they lifted off the throttle, they ran out of fuel. That issue has always existed to some extent.

Of course, things are different now, but we always tend to highlight the negatives and remember the positive things from the past.”