F1 CEO: We don't want to be NASCAR

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has reiterated his desire to keep the action on the race track as exciting as possible and insists that despite upcoming car changes, 'we do not plan to be NASCAR.'

Carey was reacting to negative responses to proposed car changes in 2018, which involved decreasing the number of available engines from four to three, and to introduce the Halo, the latter the recipient of some vitriol from fans.

Lewis Hamilton has been outspoken this week about the challenges the drivers will face next year, warning that F1 could be 'turning into NASCAR'.

But Carey responded with a clear message - F1 is not, and never will be, NASCAR.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, he claimed: "I don't want to play NASCAR globally.

"I don't think we have a differing view to Ferrari. I'm not trying to be derogatory towards NASCAR, but we don't plan to be NASCAR either. We all want the teams who have the ability to do what they do, to create cars that are unique to them - unique engines, unique bodies."

Carey also admitted, however, that the current excitement level needs assessment and that it's his ambition to return the thrills back to a sport that has been lacking in them in recent years.

"Right now, the action on the track could be better. We've got a sport that lives on shock and awe. We've got to make sure shock and awe is about sound, power, speed."