Hamilton and Alonso disagree: 'I actually like it'

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F1 drivers would welcome cars becoming lighter
16 June 2023 at 11:57
Last update 16 June 2023 at 12:59
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  • Olly Darcy
  • Editor

The current Formula 1 cars are heavier than people wish, with many drivers, including Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, thinking that is the case. It would be nice for driver experience and also for racing if the next generation of Formula 1 cars were a bit lighter in type, but whether it is realistic is another matter.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Verstappen reveals a preference for lighter cars. "I will always be in favour of lighter cars because I already enjoyed the '21 car more than what we have now in terms of how agile it was. Now the car at low speeds is a bit of a boat." But the Dutchman does wonder if it is realistic for the cars to become lighter. "That's going to be a bit unrealistic to achieve because otherwise, we wouldn't have been this heavy anyway, right?"

The world champion also thinks the new engines in 2026, which will have a bigger battery, will not help: "With the bigger battery, that will weigh a lot more, so I'm not sure if that's heading in the right direction."

Alonso and Hamilton seem to disagree

At the press conference ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were also asked if lighter cars would help the show. "I think it's more the size of the cars than the weight of the cars," Alonso says. "Overtaking and fights into the first couple of corners in the race, it is difficult now to position the car, just because of the size of it."

Nevertheless, the Spaniard would welcome a 'diet': "It's always more fun to drive light cars!" Lewis Hamilton does not entirely agree with his Spanish rival. "I think the dimensions are pretty good, but obviously, there are places where it is tight. The cars have really become too heavy. But I think it is the weight that has definitely gone too far. Our wheels this year are a ridiculous weight. And there's just no need. We've had light wheels in the past, and then the cars, just the braking zones are longer, but I definitely think there's some good changes they can make for the future."