World Champion Voices Concern Over Overtaking Speed
Lewis Hamilton supports changes following Australian GP
Lando Norris has issued a warning that Formula One faces the risk of a significant accident that could affect both drivers and fans after the season opener in Melbourne. The defending world champion was among several drivers expressing dissatisfaction with the sport’s new direction this weekend, although other senior F1 figures have urged patience to adapt to the new regulations.
Norris secured fifth place for McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix. Formula One has implemented complex regulations requiring management of electrical energy, including an overtake mode that allows cars to deploy extra power during a lap when rivals may be slowing to recharge their batteries.
The changes were tested under racing conditions for the first time, and Norris was forthright in his criticism of the outcome.
“It is chaos, and we are going to have a big accident,”
he said.
“Which is a shame because we are driving, and the ones just waiting for something to happen and to go quite horribly wrong, and that is not a nice position to be in.”
Norris further explained:
“Depending on what drivers do, you can have closing speeds of 30-50kph, and when someone hits another driver at that speed, you are going to fly and go over the fence and do a lot of damage to yourself and maybe to others and that is a pretty horrible thing to think about.”
The British driver was not alone in his evaluation of the new formula during its debut at Albert Park. Four-time champion Max Verstappen, who impressively finished sixth after starting 20th on the grid, has been vocal in his criticism of how the new cars must be driven. He added to the growing chorus of dissent following the opening weekend of the season.
“I love racing but you can only take so much,”
Verstappen said.
“I think F1 and the FIA are willing to listen, but I hope there is some action. It is not that I am the only one saying it. We are not critical just to be critical. We are critical for a reason. We want it to be proper on steroids, but today that wasn’t the case.”
He continued:
“I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this,”
adding that he has threatened to leave the sport if he stops enjoying it.
Several other drivers also criticised the "artificial" nature of the push-to-pass overtake system using electrical energy, which resulted in positions being exchanged repeatedly throughout a lap as a routine occurrence. However, some felt the new rules have potential.
“I personally loved it. I thought the race was really fun to drive. I thought the car was really, really fun to drive,”said Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth for Ferrari after competing closely with Mercedes alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.
“I watched the cars ahead, there was a good back and forth. So far, so good.”
Formula One and the FIA are closely monitoring the impact of the new racing format but have ruled out any immediate reaction. Both Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur agreed on allowing time for assessment.
“It makes sense to wait two or three events, it’s a very good start for the sport, a very good start for the show,”said Vasseur.
“I think the fans probably enjoyed the opening of the race a lot. Let’s continue like this, and if we have to react at one stage after a couple of races, we will react.”
