The Chinese Grand Prix has highlighted the conflict at the heart of Formula 1's new look, with drivers divided over the sport's new regulations.
Lewis Hamilton, who finished on the podium, described his battle with team-mate Charles Leclerc as "awesome" and "the best racing I've ever experienced in F1". According to a report by the BBC, Hamilton's comments reflect the positive effects of the new engines on racing.
However, Max Verstappen, who retired from the race, was less enthusiastic, calling the new F1 "terrible" and comparing it to the video game Mario Kart.
Driver Reactions
Fernando Alonso described the new season as "the battery world championship", highlighting the impact of the new hybrid engines on the sport.
The new engines have led to a new style of racing, with drivers able to race closely together, but struggling to push to the limit due to energy recovery limitations.
Technical Challenges
The "boost" and "overtake" modes provide extra electrical energy to help drivers pass their rivals, but leave them vulnerable to being re-passed when their battery charge is depleted.
This has led to a situation where drivers are no longer taking certain corners at the limit of grip, instead focusing on recovering energy.
Team Principals' Views
Andrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, noted that the new regulations have introduced counterintuitive aspects of driving, where saving energy can sometimes lead to faster overall sector times.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the concerns of drivers like Verstappen, but believes the current product is good for entertainment, with many overtakes and exciting racing.
Future Developments
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix has given the sport some breathing space to consider the issues, with a meeting of team bosses with F1 and the governing body the FIA scheduled for this week.
A number of ideas are already being discussed to reduce the impact of the new regulations on the driving experience, including removing the lower limit for energy recovery in certain phases of the straights.
