Vettel blasts FIA box-ticking over F1 rules

Sebastian Vettel has accused the FIA of "box-ticking" when canvassing driver opinion on changes to Formula 1. Alterations to aerodynamic rules in 2019, with the intention to improve overtaking, have been poorly received by drivers, with Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo also speaking out.

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Vettel said it was "comical" to see F1's aero rules once again changed after numerous switches between high and low-downforce approaches in recent years.

Hamilton and Vettel together skewered the proposals for next year, which are estimated to make cars more than a second per lap slower.

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the plans - supposedly pushed through by Mercedes and Ferrari - were evidence of F1 "shooting itself in the foot" as part of an overreaction to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which featured just five overtakes.

Ricciardo suggested that he had not been privy to the plans before they were passed, and Vettel has repeated his call for drivers' to have a greater say in the sport's future planning.

"In a way it's good that we're not making the rules because it's not our job, we might not have enough of an idea," Vettel said.

"But on the other hand we're driving the cars, if you want to talk about what the cars need I think it would be an interesting source to just ask us.

"We haven't really been asked. If we have then it was more to tick that box. 'Asked' and 'listened' I think is two different things.

"I think it's normal that everyone's looking for their own interest. But those decisions… I think no driver appreciates the fact that the cars are getting slower.

"Slowed down by one-and-a-half seconds, does that really help? I think there are some changes you can do to the aero without making the cars slower, that would probably help overtaking."