Lewis Hamilton Calls for an End to Car Restrictions to Prevent Long Periods of Team Dominance in F1

Max Verstappen is poised to secure his third consecutive drivers’ championship title.

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his belief that Formula 1 should consider lifting further restrictions on car development to prevent teams from establishing long periods of dominance.

Hamilton pointed out that teams with superior cars can commence work on their next design earlier than their competitors, as they require fewer resources for the ongoing season.

“If everyone had the same starting time [for developing the next car], no team would have a head start, resulting in a true race,” he suggested. “Perhaps this would bring the teams closer together in the following year.”

To level the playing field over time, F1 has already introduced a set of rules designed to narrow the performance gap, including a sliding scale of research and development time that favors weaker teams over more successful ones.

Red Bull is currently facing additional restrictions on their permitted development due to surpassing the budget cap in 2021.

Hamilton clarified that he enjoyed a period of dominance with Mercedes from 2014 to 2020 and emphasized that his comments were not directed at any specific individual.

“In my 17 years in this sport, even before I arrived, there have been instances of dominance, and it continues to happen,” he stated. “I was fortunate to experience one of those periods, and now Max [Verstappen] is experiencing it.”

He added, “With the current trajectory, this pattern will continue to repeat itself, and I don’t think it benefits the sport. When you are so far ahead, leading by 100 points, there isn’t much need for car development, allowing you to start earlier on the next car. Additionally, with the budget cap, this means allocating the current year’s resources to next year’s car.”

Hamilton called for a change to prevent long stretches where one team is significantly ahead, as it hampers the excitement of competitive racing.

Verstappen, who has won six out of the eight races this season, all with Red Bull, currently holds a 69-point lead in the championship going into the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.

In response to Hamilton’s comments, the Dutchman acknowledged that life is unfair in general and not limited to Formula 1. He stated, “We simply have to deal with it.”

He further mentioned, “When Hamilton was winning championships, we weren’t having these conversations, were we? So, I don’t think we should be having them now.”

As of now, Hamilton sits in fourth place in the 2023 drivers’ championship.

Hamilton Still Struggles to Push the Limit

Hamilton acknowledged the recent upgrades to his Mercedes in the past races as a step in the right direction, making the car feel more like a true racing car.

However, he admitted that the car’s behavior still requires improvements, preventing him from fully pushing it to its limits.

“Having confidence in the car’s stability is crucial,” Hamilton explained. “When you enter a corner at speeds of 150-180 mph, you need assurance that the car will support and carry you through it.”

He criticized the previous year’s car for its unpredictable behavior, which forced him to hold back and avoid pushing it to its limit.

“The recent changes and our chosen direction have allowed me to explore the car’s capabilities further and gain more confidence in pushing closer to the limit. However, I’m still unable to reach that limit, so further changes are necessary,” Hamilton revealed.

He expressed his expectation for fundamental changes in the upcoming year, which he has been advocating for over a year, stating that they would significantly enhance the driving experience.

McLaren’s Anticipated Upgrade

While Mercedes has more new parts planned for the British Grand Prix, all eyes are on McLaren

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about car restrictions

More about car restrictions

• Lewis Hamilton calls for car restrictions to end ‘periods of dominance’ by teams
• F1 has already introduced a package of rules aimed at closing the field over time
• Red Bull facing an extra restriction on permitted development
• Max Verstappen leads the championship by 69 points
• Lewis Hamilton’s struggles to push his Mercedes to the limit
• McLaren introducing a milestone development