Even the ‘Lion’ has voiced his criticism of the new regulations, expressing hope for the return of a specific engine in Formula 1.
Criticism of modern Formula 1
Today’s Formula 1, shaped by its current technical regulations and the recent updates set to take effect from the Miami Grand Prix, is far from convincing for several drivers on the starting grid, many of whom have openly shared their concerns and doubts. More broadly across the Formula 1 paddock, it is not only current drivers who are questioning the direction of the sport, but also former champions who are not entirely aligned with the latest changes introduced into the series, as highlighted by recent comments from two world champions: Sebastian Vettel, a four-time title winner, and Nigel Mansell.
Crowned world champion with Williams in 1992, the ‘Lion of England’ believes that drivers have taken a back seat to technology during the opening races of the season: “There has been a huge change in the regulations, both in terms of the car and the engine,” he explained to aceodds.com. “I think there will be improvements in power management. Hopefully, they will no longer have to slow down too much in certain corners. I believe it is vitally important that drivers are able to push the cars to their full potential rather than having a computer telling them when to brake or not. Fernando Alonso made us all laugh by saying that his chef could probably drive better than him at the moment. We need to get back to normality. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of all global motorsport, and we must not forget that. As technology continues to evolve, they can make further adjustments toward a 50/50 balance later on, but right now they simply need to give the cars more power so they can race properly.”
The hope for a V10 return
While acknowledging the importance of technological development and sustainability, Nigel Mansell believes that Formula 1 has lost part of its identity, with one possible solution being the return of a specific type of engine: “From an engineering perspective, if it’s not broken, you don’t try to fix it,” he added. “People don’t realize that major changes have been underway for quite some time. It takes a long time for all the teams and manufacturers to bring everything together. The complexity of the regulations is enormous, and if everything is not done correctly—combined with the integration of power units, energy recovery systems, and so on—it becomes a minefield. Drivers can break so many rules, yet it is the computers doing everything. I would simply like to see more decision-making power in the drivers rather than in computers. Looking back at the 1970s and 1980s, more than 90% of the engines were Cosworth DFV units. We essentially all had the same engines, and the racing was fantastic. You knew that the cars, the drivers, the tyres, the mechanics, and the engineers made a huge difference. Yes, we are in the computer age, but racing should be as stable as possible so that everyone has the chance to catch up and compete. Everyone talks about how great it would be to have V10 engines back because of their sound. If you are a purist, the answer is yes. Everyone builds their own V10, and it will sound incredible because it represents the pinnacle of motorsport.”
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