Hamilton has a plan to fix F1's boring races
Hamilton has a plan to fix F1's boring races
Lewis Hamilton says the number of one-stop races in Formula 1 has become "ridiculous" and called on tyre supplier Pirelli to take drastic action in an attempt to improve races. All but three of the 16 races so far in 2018 have been won by drivers on one-stop strategies.
Aside from the lack of chances for teams to make strategic gains in the pits, tyre management has also spoiled on-track action at a number of races so far this season – the opening laps of the Singapore Grand Prix a prime example of this.
The top six in qualifying at Marina Bay finished in the same positions, with only Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen battling at any time in the race.
The red team’s worst nightmare...
Now there’s four of them! ????????????#JapaneseGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/oPKsqHwQqY — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 5, 2018
Pirelli made their compounds a step softer for 2018, but Hamilton says they did not go far enough.
"I've really got to keep pushing Pirelli because the tyres feel great here but this whole one-stop business is just ridiculous," Hamilton said after topping both practice sessions on Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix.
"Next year I reckon they've got to go three steps softer. Swing them all lower so we have to do at least two stops per race.
"It's going to make it a little bit more challenging, and more grip, naturally as you go to softer compounds.
"And then the thinner gauge so you have less of the thermal blisters that we see and maybe we can be able to follow and have more racing."
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