F1: Hamilton 'Concerned' About 2021 Rules Changes, Says Drivers Ignored

Lewis Hamilton may be enjoying his time in Formula 1 at the moment with a sixth Drivers’ championship title on the way but all is not rosy looking ahead into the sport’s future. The British racing driver admits that the future direction in which the new owners are planning to go is “concerning” for all the drivers.

Liberty Media, the new owners of F1, have made a number of changes to the rules since taking over in 2017 but it has not had the desired effect. They were keen to make the racing more exciting in the hope that more teams battle for race wins rather than the regular top teams like Mercedes and Ferrari.

They changed the aerodynamic regulations to increase overtaking during races while also limiting the number of engines every team used to reduce costs. Hamilton believes the changes have not worked and has questioned the decision-making process.

The Briton is also concerned that the drivers’ opinions about how to improve racing have not been taken into consideration, which is alarming because they have the best seat in the house when it comes to experiencing the pros and cons of today’s F1. He is also certain that the plans to make the cars heavier as part of the new regulations in 2021 will take the sport backward rather than forward.

“The changes they’ve made in previous years have not been particularly effective so they’re probably not confident in the decision-making process,” Hamilton said ahead of the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, as quoted on Fox Sports.

“It’s not an easy job, ultimately, but there’s a lot of people involved in the decision-making process. I think us drivers are trying to have more of an impact and more of a role in helping them make a better decision. But it doesn’t seem to have made much difference to be honest.”

“Making heavier cars: Why are they making the cars heavier? There’s absolutely no reason to make the cars heavier. It’s not safer, it’s not better for racing,” he added. “My point’s still the same. I’m still concerned and I don’t think that’s going to change to be honest based on what I’ve experienced and witnessed in the meeting it is what it is.”

Recently, there were talks about scrapping qualifying and having a reverse grid race on Saturday which will see the championship leader start at the back of the grid and the driver at the bottom of the championship start on pole. The grid for the main race will be decided on the basis of the result of the race on Saturday.

Four-time Drivers’ champion Sebastian Vettel branded the idea “Bull---t” while Hamilton believes the idea is just an excuse to cover up all the bad decisions the management have made thus far. He said: “It was a concern back then and it’s still the same concern. The fact that now they’re trying a reverse grid and all that it just seems to me like, it feels like an excuse for not doing a good enough job in the decision process.”

The reaction from the sport’s top two drivers with regard to the direction the sport is taking heading into 2021, the year all the new changes are expected to come into effect. One would be wise to ask the question if the likes of Hamilton and Vettel will want to continue in F1 – moreover, both the drivers will be out of contract at the end of the 2020 campaign.