Norris - F1 "moving in the right direction" with regulation changes

Norris, McLaren, Imola, 2022 — Photo: © LAT Images

Lando Norris

Norris - F1 "moving in the right direction" with regulation changes

New rules have aided overtaking this season

Will Gray

Sunday 1 May 2022 17:00

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Lando Norris believes F1 is “moving in the right direction” with the new regulations and has praised the governing body for making the sport more exciting to watch.

The extensively updated aerodynamic rules introduced this season have radically changed the car designs which in turn has made for closer racing.

McLaren driver Norris, who scored his first podium last weekend by finishing third in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, has been impressed by what he has encountered to date.

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'There is a lot of evidence so far that things are going in the right direction," remarked Norris. "I don’t know if it has hit exact numbers, but it’s been made to have better racing, closer racing, more overtaking.

“Every race we have had so far has been exactly that. So, I think what they have done is good.

"It has been a good show so far, it’s shaken up the order a bit, and so the reason for changing everything has worked. It’s a good job.”

Field will close up over time - Latifi

Despite the success, some criticism has been levelled at the new regulations for failing to dramatically change the order, including from Fernando Alonso, as Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes still remain the teams to beat.

They have, though, at least enabled Haas and Alfa Romeo to rise back into the midfield.

Nicholas Latifi, whose backmarker Williams team has not enjoyed such success, believes the field will close up over time.

“From the aerodynamics side and the following, I think every driver thinks it’s easier to follow compared to last year," said Latifi.

"That’s a good step for the first year of these regulations. Over the next years hopefully, the rules do close the field up a bit.

"But when I get back home on Monday and I watch the races back, it’s clear, as a fan of the sport as well, they are more exciting than they have been in previous years.”

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes