Hamilton fears over boring F1

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Sep 17:38:00 2008

Lewis Hamilton has bemoaned the lack of overtaking in Formula One after a processional European GP in which he finished second.

2008 McLaren Lewis Hamilton - 0

The World Championship leader expressed fears that the sport can be "boring," adding: "We do need to be able to follow closely and do more overtaking.

"Look at the last race in Valencia - there was no overtaking at all - so it can be a bit dull. I definitely support the move to try and make F1 more exciting."

Hamilton's comments came after news of design changes to F1 cars intended to aid slipstreaming. Smaller wings will be introduced for the 2009 season, as well as alterations to the rear diffuser.

These changes have been shown to reduce the effect of 'dirty air', which disturbs the aerodynamics of cars following others around corners.

Hamilton said: "You couldn't get close to other cars [at Valencia], which is the same at a lot of the circuits we have.

"I think we put on a great show, but you saw there wasn't any overtaking. I don't know what the answer to that is, but I do know I was working my ass off in the race and doing the best job I could."

Hamilton is not the first driver to discuss the difficulty of slipstreaming this season. Last week, Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel told the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport: "You cannot get closer than about one second behind."

A perceived decline in overtaking has long been a complaint of F1 fans who remember the thrilling races of the 1960s.

Reasons cited for the reduction in wheel-to-wheel action include aerodynamic changes and the removal of overtaking-friendly circuits, such as Paul Ricard and Kyalami.

"The new circuits are potentially just flat and boring," added Hamilton.

Despite these concerns about overtaking, F1 Racing magazine reported in June that there were 270 on-track overtaking moves in the 2007 season. Felipe Massa topped the table, completing a total of 20 overtaking manoeuvres.

James Garner / Eurosport

Comment 129 - 148 of 148

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  1. I really miss michael schumacher and mika hakkinen.F1 is getting boring after both of them retired.

    From Zero, on Sat 6 Sep 11:51AM
  2. if he fears over a boring F1 why don't he suggests to FIA that all teams build cars that have the exact specs of force india's cars.surely more overtaking moves.but when it comes to overtaking moves,MotoGP rules.

    From Zero, on Sat 6 Sep 11:47AM
  3. I can not agree more with my friend 'mjtanuvasa'. He has nailed the cannard by saying it plain and simple. LOUDMOUTH, LH is one of the reasons that it does become boring. He adds insult to injury by making boring statements. It is high time that he sticks to his job.

    From Ravi, on Fri 5 Sep 6:22AM
  4. LH you are one of the reason F1 is boring.Rather watch MotoGP any day.At least a rider with talent is easy to spot rather than watching overpaid delivery drivers toodling around the circuit.

    From MICHAEL, on Thu 4 Sep 6:11PM
  5. don't call the good comments invaled just because you at yahoo don't like them or are there certain words that make you term some comments invalid?

    From buda, on Thu 4 Sep 3:33PM
  6. at least you can watch football inbetween qualification and the checkered flag.

    From buda, on Thu 4 Sep 3:32PM
  7. They should make the races in doors so at least the can control the weather to make it more interesting, rain for two laps, sun for the next, a tornedo the next, maybe even have changable tracks.

    From buda, on Thu 4 Sep 3:27PM
  8. why not just stage a series of QUALIFICATIONS
    ---------------------- never mind the race demonstration run floowing each other round in circles

    From xexxenia, on Thu 4 Sep 1:05PM
  9. f1? truly boring since m schummacher retirement.

    From erwinf, on Thu 4 Sep 12:43PM
  10. At johnnywilkinson (post #105). Look mate, my post (#76), concerning reverse grids and points was an IDEA, yes, just that, an idea. No, the drivers needn't get more points for the qualifier, but I was trying to offer a solution to the problem of drivers simply qualifying slower in order to get a good grid position within a reversed grid system (also an idea).

    It needn't be points based however, a [mathematical] weighting system might also suffice, meaning that drivers-that-qualified-quickest's final race position/points might be multiplied, mathematically highlighting their skill/team technical ability etc.

    See, the idea here is to inject a little competition/fun back into into the F1 championship by giving better drivers/cars a chance to divest there skill more regularly, hopefully, by watching them overtake, which is what most people and Hamilton, seem to be debating here.

    And in answer to your theory on democracy, even elected governments have groups of advisers, we just leave it up to those with the final nod to say yes or no. We're just advising, OK? Ideas remember, allowed to do that, freedom of speech (it's democratic).

    From Richard J, on Thu 4 Sep 12:39PM
  11. If Massa is top with 20 overtaking manoeuvres in 2007 that works out
    at just about 1 overtaking manoeuvre per race. Pretty boring to me.
    Roll on next season. I only hope the new changes make a difference!

    From M, on Thu 4 Sep 10:42AM
  12. hi any spare surplus drivers around for me to claim

    From xexxenia, on Thu 4 Sep 10:06AM
  13. WHY BOTHER TALKING ABOUT THE DELIVERY BOYS IN THE SEATS
    IT IS THE CARS + TEAM + PIT CREW THAT WIN RACES
    PUT YOUR FAVOURITE BOY IN THE HONDA SEAT
    OR FILL THE FERRARRII & MACLAREN SEATS WITH ALTERNATIVES

    STILL THE SAME PRETTY LITTLE RED TOY CARS COME HOME FIRST

    From controlclimate, on Thu 4 Sep 9:04AM
  14. @#$%

    From bowesey17, on Thu 4 Sep 8:39AM
  15. easy solution! watch moto gp. overtaking all race, more skilled drivers, an better personality's, f1s dead

    From mikeymeltrobe, on Thu 4 Sep 1:46AM
  16. typical loser.. he couldn't catch up and said the race was boring.

    From Ronny W, on Thu 4 Sep 1:41AM
  17. i cant wait till next years cars, back to slicks and much more simpeler bodywork.

    From pond.simba@..., on Thu 4 Sep 1:01AM
  18. lets restore manual gear boxes + narrower tyres

    From ekaterinabell, on Wed 3 Sep 11:39PM
  19. omly me im back ive been playing solitaire bit more exciting than f1 dont you think

    From skintus, on Wed 3 Sep 11:27PM
  20. The biggest problem with F1 is the lack of competition. It has basically been Ferrari vs. McLaren for quite some time now. Renault made a brief appearance at the top, but then...

    Surprisingly, some of the other teams with big budgets can't seem to keep up. What F1 really needs is for BMW, Toyota, Honda, etc. to catch up to the big 2. If that were to happen, we would no longer see comments about F1 being boring. Until then, we just have to be patient. At least we have a close fight for the title for the second year in a row. Things are not that bad!!

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 3 Sep 9:55PM
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