Lewis Hamilton U-turns on troublesome F1 rule change as George Russell makes feelings clear
Mercedes F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both given their perspectives on switch networks as of late, and maintain differentiating viewpoints on the subject
Lewis Hamilton has adjusted his perspective on invert matrices in the midst of hypothesis they could be brought into Recipe 1 one year from now.
Changes to the Sprint format, which returns for a fourth season in 2024, are being discussed by F1 executives. Once more, the two-race weekend format will be used for six events out of the 24-race schedule.
However, changes are planned to increase the excitement of the short-form Sprint races. In addition, the introduction of partially reversed grids, in which the Shootout qualifying result would be flipped around to determine the Sprint’s starting order, is a topic of discussion.
It is currently utilized in the Formula 2 and Formula 3 feeder series, where the top ten qualifiers are rotated for the Sprint while remaining the same for the main race.
Hamilton has recently proposed he would be against the utilization of opposite networks in F1. Addressing columnists at the 2019 Singapore Terrific Prix, the Brit said of the thought: ” I don’t actually have the foggiest idea what to say… individuals who have proposed it don’t actually have a clue.”
In any case, his view with regards to this issue appears to have changed. He seems to be on board with the idea of reversing the grid for the short-form race as well as the Sprint format as a whole. He stated: Although Saturday isn’t the best day, I prefer the single practice session before qualifying.
“I figure we can learn. I love that we truly do have an alternate organization, as opposed to only similar three practice meetings and afterward the passing and the race. The best Run race I at any point had was the point at which I began last [in Brazil 2021] as I’m agreeable to the opposite request, with the exception of on the off chance that we had that, everybody will simply attempt to qualify last!”
However, his teammate George Russell clearly opposes the concept. The Mercedes racer, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, stated, “I won’t speak on behalf of the drivers, but my own personal opinion is I don’t think reverse grid races will work – purely because I learned this when I raced in Formula 3 and Formula 2,” adding, “I don’t think reverse grid races will work.”
“The most difficult car to overtake is the one you’re fighting with if you have the ten fastest cars. Assuming you switch that matrix, you will have the speediest vehicle in tenth attempting to surpass the second-fastest vehicle in 10th, which is attempting to overwhelm the third-fastest vehicle which is in eighth. Along these lines, every vehicle is really attempting to surpass their most immediate rival.
“What you’ll probably find is that it’s just a DRS train because you might have a Williams leading from a Haas, who can’t quite get past, leading from an Alpine, leading from a McLaren, or someone else. So I figure the idea won’t work.”
