Lewis Hamilton says there is no excuse for Formula 1 to have cars that sound worse and produce less spectacular racing than its support category, F2.
Speaking at the BRDC Awards where F1 CEO Chase Carey was also in attendance, Hamilton said he wants to see louder engines, bigger tyres, and a greater ability to follow the car ahead.
He urged F1’s new bosses to make the sport “more raw”, and questioned why F2 is often able to make provide more spectacular racing.
“From a racing driver’s point of view you just want to be able to race closely like you could in karts,” said Hamilton. “Kart racing is the best form of racing still, because the guys follow each other so closely.
“The cars this year are the best they’ve ever been. Looking at the next step, I believe Ross [Brawn] and Chase and the teams are really working hard to make sure that the next cars in 2021, they’re even more raw.
“I hope they make the cars louder. You can have bigger tyres. Why did Jackie [Stewart] have big tyres back in the day and we’ve got smaller tyres? Maybe a little less downforce, maybe we can race closer.
“There’s no reason why a GP2 race or F2 or whatever you want to call it should be louder and sound better, and be able to have better racing, and follow closer.
“And that’s what we’ve somehow got to make in F1, while it’s still faster than the other classes.”
The four-time champion reckons Formula 1 continues to be behind other sports such as American football in terms of global awareness, but praised its new owners for trying new things.
“I think everyone has an opinion about it,” said Hamilton. “It’s not about what I want, it’s just F1 has been a little bit behind other sports. It’s such a special sport.
“And you look at the NFL, you look at soccer, you look at all these other sports which happen to have a little bit more of a global awareness – I think F1 has the scope to be as big as those.
“I think the great thing with Chase and the team from Liberty coming in is they’ve really brought something new into the mix this year, whilst they’re learning at the same time about the sport, and what the fans want.”
Credit: Motorsport.com
LEWIS HAMILTON WORLD CHAMPION 2017 limited edition print by Greg Tillett
2017 Lewis Hamilton F1 World Champion 1/2 Scale Miniature Race Helmet in Box
