Stuck: "Aerodynamics just makes the races boring"

  • Published on 22 Mar 2017 09:50
  • comments 2
  • By: Rob Veenstra

As excitement builds for the new era of F1, German official Hans-Joachim Stuck thinks the sport has taken a wrong turn. Amid criticism of the spectacle in the last few years, the teams have arrived in Melbourne for the 2017 season opener with much faster cars in their luggage.

"This idea was proposed by Bernie Ecclestone and approved by the strategy group," the retired Williams technical chief Pat Symonds is quoted by L'Equipe. "The idea was to make it much harder for a 17-year-old to make his debut and be successful, but the facts show that young drivers can cope with the new cars."

The 2017 cars were given their 5 second per lap boost thanks to wider Pirelli slicks and - for the first time in F1 history - aerodynamic rule changes that actually deliver significantly more rather than less downforce.

But former driver and German motor racing official Stuck thinks speeding up the cars with better aerodynamics was the wrong route. "It's not just the cost, aerodynamics just makes the races boring," he told the German business magazine Sponsors. "Fans want to see real motor sport with real overtaking, not some senseless technical innovation like the folding wing," Stuck added.

He is referring to 'DRS', because even though F1 chief Ross Brawn wants to eventually ban the artificial overtaking aid, there are rumours a lack of overtaking in 2017 will mean DRS is actually revved up within a few races this year. (GMM)

Let's see what aero is on the red bulls this weekend. Maybe they found a way (their nice sleek design without wings and deflectors like everybody else) to get most of the down force with much less of the drag meaning they are slower but able to push harder for longer due to greater efficency. Whe... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Mar 22 2017 - 10:31

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Let's see what aero is on the red bulls this weekend. Maybe they found a way (their nice sleek design without wings and deflectors like everybody else) to get most of the down force with much less of the drag meaning they are slower but able to push harder for longer due to greater efficency. When Merc and Ferrari have to go into fuel saving mode the Red bulls could come sailing by...Hopefully with smiley ahead of maximum Maldonado.

    • + 1
    • Mar 22 2017 - 10:31
  • Take away aero grip (some) and add mechanical grip!

    • + 0
    • Mar 22 2017 - 14:56

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

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar