Photo: Daimler AG
Mostly because the new Formula One rules and regulations are so restrictive this year, especially when talking about fuel limitation and the number of engines and tires allocated for the entire season, free practice sessions have arguably started looking like the most boring parts of an F1 race.
For example, during the third free practice session in the previous grand prix at Shanghai, no less than four cars failed to complete a timed lap, while most other cars did less than 10 laps each during the 90-minute session.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver and Chinese Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton is not very happy with the situation created, believing that the spectators are the ones who lose the most because of this.
“I have sympathy for the people watching maybe just one car going round for the first half an hour - I think it can be managed a bit better,” Lewis said.
“When I used to turn on Formula 1 I wanted to see people driving around. Now I'm among the drivers, when you come into the garage and don't go out I can just imagine [what that's like for the fans]. We can't have too much mileage on the engine so you're limited to almost 15 or 16 laps in the one session.” he continued, quoted by Autosport.
The Brit's solution would be for FIA to give the option of an extra power unit to free up some mileage, with a number of extra tires to be allocated especially for the free race practice sessions.
“We almost need a free engine and we'd be bolting around; we'd get 30 or 40 laps at least in each session. I think it would be good fun for the fans to see, and good for development.”
Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver and Chinese Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton is not very happy with the situation created, believing that the spectators are the ones who lose the most because of this.
“I have sympathy for the people watching maybe just one car going round for the first half an hour - I think it can be managed a bit better,” Lewis said.
“When I used to turn on Formula 1 I wanted to see people driving around. Now I'm among the drivers, when you come into the garage and don't go out I can just imagine [what that's like for the fans]. We can't have too much mileage on the engine so you're limited to almost 15 or 16 laps in the one session.” he continued, quoted by Autosport.
The Brit's solution would be for FIA to give the option of an extra power unit to free up some mileage, with a number of extra tires to be allocated especially for the free race practice sessions.
“We almost need a free engine and we'd be bolting around; we'd get 30 or 40 laps at least in each session. I think it would be good fun for the fans to see, and good for development.”
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