Despite Lewis Hamilton’s Concerns, FIA Overlooks a Major Problem Plaguing the Grid Behind Max Verstappen: “Still a Long Way From 2021”

Over the last few years, FIA has made it a priority to level the playing field among current F1 teams. In furtherance of that cause, the ruling body introduced the cost cap and the proportional allotment of wind tunnel time according to the previous year’s standings. Another step in that direction was the introduction of ground-effect cars last year. However, many drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, argued that the regulations proved counterproductive. FIA has now issued clarification arguing it’s a non-issue.

Ever since the introduction of the new regulations, Red Bull has gained an immense advantage over its rivals. The Austrian team practically ran away with both championships last year, amassing 17 race wins. All this while, the grid behind them has come closer with little separating the top teams from midfield and the mid teams from bottom dwellers.

FIA overlooks concerns raised by Lewis Hamilton

While the entire grid, barring Red Bull, has crunched up, numbers show that overtaking has become difficult. Hamilton raised the issue post-Jeddah and so did Carlos Sainz recently. Teams like Haas have also raised the issue of a lot more “dirty air” being released from the diffusers of the cars ahead, which makes tailgating difficult as well.

FIA sports director Nikolas Tombazis has however, according to Auto Motor und Sport, argued that “We’re still a long way from 2021.” [Translated using Google]

“Some drivers may have had problems overtaking in one of the races. That can lead to the impression that things have generally become more difficult.”

Tombazis also talked about how the air behind will continue to grow more turbulent as cars develop further. “But compared to 2009, where an attempt was made to make overtaking easier, the regulations are so tightly knit that we will stay within an acceptable range,” he added.

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The observations are completely opposite to what Hamilton has pointed out recently when speaking on the issue. What is more difficult to digest is that the ruling body brushed the problem aside as a non-issue.

What Hamilton had said about overtaking becoming more difficult

Sainz recently talked about overtaking becoming more difficult from last year since the FIA raised the ride height of cars owing to the porpoising issue. Hamilton, however, believes that the situation has remained the same as he felt that overtaking is as difficult in this season as it was in the last one.

Motorsportweek quoted him as saying, “Nope, it’s the same as the past.”

“I think it’s still a little bit better than the previous generation of cars. But hasn’t delivered everything that it said it would, so got some improvements to make hopefully for the future.”

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It will be interesting to see if the FIA changes its stance if more teams and drivers complain about the issue. For now, they have cleared their stand.