Hamilton casts new fears over racing abilities for 2017

  • Published on 22 Feb 2017 18:51
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has cast fresh doubts over the overtaking abilities of the 2017 Formula 1 cars after speaking with his engineers. Mercedes are set to unveil the W08 later today, but Hamilton is worried about the potential lack of excitement Formula 1 cars could bring.

With much more downforce being added to the cars, they will enable drivers to push through corners at much higher speeds. This will then produce more dirty air for the car behind, supposedly making it more difficult to follow the car ahead.

While we have seen this occur more and more in recent years, some engineers have voiced their opinion, stating it won't effect the racing any more than it has done up to now. However, three time world champion Hamilton is not so confident.

"My engineers say it's going to be a lot harder to overtake," Hamilton told the BBC. "If we see overtaking is worse, it's going to be worse for the fans, the spectacle will be worse so I'm hoping that's not the case.

"For example, I heard tyres might not be as grippy as we'd hoped but the aero downforce is going to be huge because it's a bigger, wider car so there's going to be more downforce, so the car behind will be affected even more than it ever was before. And I've heard the engineers said this would potentially happen and there is an alternative route but this is the route that's chosen.

"So we are where we are and I really hope that the engineers, who are the smartest guys, are wrong and I hope that the spectacle is greater and the most competitive that it's ever been and if it is, then I look forward to being part of that."

Since the last regulation overhaul three seasons ago, Mercedes have dominated the F1 scene, but Hamilton thinks there is a chance for someone else to race the superior car next year.

"It's a completely new slate," he added. "It might be Ferrari at the front, it might be Red Bull, we have no idea. I think the big unknown is Red Bull, I think they always create an amazing car and this is a new area of downforce and they're amazing at creating downforce so I think it'll be really interesting to see what they pull out and I'm hoping it'll be a real mixture of competition. I hope it'll be close so we'll be fighting with Red Bull and Ferrari. That's what the fans want to see."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • StigsSon

    Posts: 35

    Be prepared for Hamilton's unsporting miserable persona when he isn't winning.
    I think he's right though. Red Bull are gonna surprise a few people.


    Max Verstappen 10/3 for the championship at the moment. :)
    Daniel Ricciardo 9/2!

    • + 0
    • Feb 23 2017 - 06:05
  • I hope the engineers are wrong..

    • + 0
    • Feb 23 2017 - 09:46

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,162
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 187
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar