Jeremy Clarkson has instructed how F1 can remedy its overtaking downside following a tedious Japanese Grand Prix.
Sunday’s grand prix at Suzuka proved to be a 53-lap snooze fest because the drivers struggled to overhaul because of the concern of soiled air affecting the automobile’s aerodynamic efficiency.
Considerations have been raised that this season may grow to be a “qualifying world championship”, with all 4 races to this point (together with the China dash) gained by the driving force beginning on pole place.
Whereas the Chinese language Grand Prix was hardly a thriller, Japan was notably processional, with simply 15 overtakes accomplished and 11 of the 20 drivers ending the race in the identical place they began it.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was the one driver inside the highest 10 to achieve a place.
Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the season for Purple Bull, having resisted race-long strain from the chasing McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Loads of followers have been left disgruntled by the dearth of motion, together with former Prime Gear host and F1 paddock common Clarkson.
Clarkson took to social media to share a easy repair – by urging F1 to keep away from utilizing tracks the place overtaking is troublesome.
“I’ve had an concept to make F1 racing extra constantly thrilling. Don’t use tracks the place overtaking is troublesome,” Clarkson wrote on X (previously Twitter).
“Positive. The vehicles are greater so settle for that, ignore the “incentives”, and use tracks which might be appropriate. Finally, the income comes from followers. At all times.
“That F1 race this morning gave me an concept of what it is perhaps like to observe cricket.”
Even F1 drivers have been bored
It was not simply followers left bored by the tepid grand prix, with Norris saying: “It was flat-out from begin to end however the tempo was too much like do something.
“Max drove an excellent race with no errors, and it finally got here all the way down to qualifying positions.”
F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto commented: “It was not so troublesome only a bit boring to remain behind [the car in front].
“Even when you have extra tempo, which was my case in direction of the tip of the race, it was not sufficient to have that actually huge tempo benefit.
“I attempted two instances [to overtake] however I wasn’t capable of be aspect by aspect on the finish of the straight. A disgrace however we transfer on.”
Nonetheless, Fernando Alonso, who completed simply outdoors of the factors in eleventh, identified that F1 drivers at all times discover one thing to complain about.
“Perhaps one cease was not perhaps the enjoyable race that we have been hoping for, and up to now with a number of stops, perhaps there is a tyre distinction,” he mentioned.
“When we do not have grip we complain that there isn’t a grip, and when we now have too many stops we complain the tyres do not final, so as a substitute of seeing the damaging a part of the weekend, I attempt to get pleasure from what we skilled this weekend, and it was one other nice Suzuka.”
