Russell clashes with Verstappen on new F1 rules, highlighting the thrill of side-by-side racing and promising improvements from upcoming tweaks.
George Russell has once again spoken out about the changes to Formula 1's regulations, following the wave of criticism directed at the new power units in the opening races of the season.
In a conversation with the BBC, the Mercedes driver laid out his position on the championship's current state: "I remember watching F1 20 years ago, hearing the roar of those engines — it was incredible. But there wasn't a single overtake," he said.
"You could argue that was the purest Formula 1 we've ever seen. But the racing was boring. So I think we only remember the good parts of certain eras. Right now, we tend to focus on the negatives. And there are a lot of positives about this new regulation and these new cars."
"I spoke with an F1 driver from the '80s and '90s — a multiple race winner — and he told me they had a boost button that gave them an extra 300 horsepower, but by the end of the straight, at the apex, they'd run out of fuel. So this kind of thing has always existed to some degree. It's different now, sure, but we've always had a tendency to highlight the negatives while romanticizing the past."
What Did Russell Say About Verstappen's Criticism?
Max Verstappen has been among the most vocal critics of F1's new ruleset, dividing opinion between those who agree with him and those who think the concerns are overblown.
Weighing in on the matter, Russell was direct: "I definitely don't share that view at all. Personally, I'm really enjoying the car. The power unit is definitely different. It just needs some fine-tuning to get the most out of it. But it gives you the chance to fight harder and race side by side."
"We're here on what is essentially a kart track. And Lewis made a great point: in kart racing, you take a corner, the other guy takes it back, and you overtake again. Nobody ever called that Mario Kart or yo-yo racing or whatever the term is. We just call it racing — pure, great racing."
"Anyone who thinks drivers are going slow through corners to be faster on the straights is wrong. There are a few quirks, and the FIA has done everything it can to eliminate them. These are highly technical details, and honestly, fans don't really need to understand them."
"From this race onward, with the small changes the sport is making, things will be easier for us. We'll be flat out on the straight in a qualifying lap and won't have to lift to manage any of the energy," he concluded.