As the powers-that-be consider all manner of ideas to make races more exciting - without actually addressing the real issues - Lewis Hamilton has a cunning plan.

The Briton suggests that some race weekends would be enlivened by following a different format.

"I think one of the biggest changes that needs to be made is that at the moment it is the same four days, every weekend, for 21 weekends every single year pretty much," he said, according to Motorsport.com.

"I think it needs to be dynamic," he admitted. "It needs to be different for certain circuits so you have a 'super weekend'.

"There are some tracks where the race is so boring," he continued. "I remember growing up watching and falling asleep after the start. I am sure there are people who fall asleep after the start and wake up when they set their alarms for the end. I used to do it when I was younger, and there were some tracks that kept you on the edge of your seat, like I imagine Baku this year."

The Briton admits that while some races may not excite the fans, actually driving the contemporary F1 car is more exciting than ever.

"I think it is more exciting this year, being in these cars is the best it has ever been," he said. "But I am sure there are still dull races. So picking those ones out and saying, how can we make it different for that race? Whether it is reverse grid or whatever we end up doing, they should look into doing that."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 15/10/2018 14:58

"Lewis should stick to the driving!"

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2. Posted by mickl, 15/10/2018 12:20

"Delete front wing, allow ground effects aero, takeaway power steering and put a manual gearbox back in. Job done. Let the driver's skill show through."

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3. Posted by imejl99, 15/10/2018 11:54

"Yeah, it is all about racing -
1. mandatory full wet tires for 1 stint of 6, or 2 stints of 3 laps (flexible, ain't it)
2. drive thru for each and every 4 wheel track limits excursion
3. qualifying in teammate`s car

feel free to add any other nonsense

almost forgot Bernie`s sprinklers..."

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4. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 15/10/2018 8:42

"You could remove the boring tracks and have double headers at the good ones. "

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5. Posted by Chris Roper, 15/10/2018 6:27

"No need to change the format for the boring races.
Just remove the front wing, Jam the DRS open and Race as normal.
"

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6. Posted by Oldgit, 15/10/2018 0:44

"@RDFox - I think you have the wrong end of the stick.

Short oval racing is boring if it goes on too long due to the restrictions of the tracks, so they introduced the heats and main even formula to artificially introduce "excitement" for the audience.

In F1 there are many different types of tracks each offering different challenges and opertunities (even though the powers that be have introduced so many boring stop/start street circuits) the problem is the artificial technical rules that have been introduced that limit the ability of designers and drivers to compete properley.

As an example you are limited on the amount of fuel you are allowed to use during a race AND there is a limit of fuel flow at any given moment, add to that the artificial tyre regulations that the tyres must degrade X amount and drivers have to change tyres via a pit spot to make it more "exciting".

If they simplify the rules there will be more innovation (like the 1970s) with teams trying out novel/wierd ideas (think 6 wheeled Tyrells and Brabham fan cars etc...)

Making the cars "road relaent" and eco-friendly/green is a load of tosh. If they wanted to do that then there should be a speed limit on the cars (70 mph or 110 KPH) like most countries and should mandate that they must be able to accommodate up to 5 passengers and a boot (trunk) full of the weekly shopping.

* * * Spleen venting complete * * *
"

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7. Posted by RDFox, 14/10/2018 15:10

"How about going with a format that has worked extremely well in the US for racing at local short ovals, a "heats and main" format?

For those unfamiliar, the format has initial qualifying to seed drivers for the heats. A series of short, small-field heat races are then held to set the field for the main event, with the top X drivers in each heat advancing to specific starting positions based on their finishing order in their heat. After the heats, an even shorter "Last Chance Qualifier" race is held with the cars not yet qualified into the main event; the top N finishers in the LCQ make it to the main event, starting at the back of the grid. Following the LCQ, you then hold the Main Event, a longer race (still shorter--the combination of heat, LCQ, and main should add up to roughly full GP distance) with the grid set through the heats and LCQ, to determine the overall finishing order.

I'm not certain how well-suited this format would be to road racing, but, as stated, it has worked extremely well historically at short ovals, particularly in that it gives the spectators more "racing" for their dollar--it's about the same amount of track time for each car, but the heat races make the early part of it take a longer time to run, and as all the races are shorter, there's more all-out scrambling for every position and less cruising to preserve equipment for the finish.

Fambank: If any form of reverse grid was applied (again, taking lessons from American short oval racing experience), the way to prevent "sandbagging" in qualifying is simple: reverse only the first portion of the field, with the actual number of grid positions reversed randomized (usually by drawing a number out of a hat) *after* qualifying is complete. It could be anything from four positions to the full field reversed, but the important part is that *nobody* knows how many positions will be reversed until after qualifying is complete. This would discourage sandbagging in qualifying, as everyone would realize that, inevitably, if they sandbagged to get last on the grid, the random draw would manage to say that only the top four positions are reversed and they have to start at the back. Perhaps add a bonus point or some sort of prize money for winning pole, as well, to encourage teams and drivers to go for that last tenth of a second and try to get the pole even if they don't start on it, too..."

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8. Posted by FQITW, 14/10/2018 15:02

"Reverse grids?
Oooh that’s really exciting – why has no one thought of that before I wonder?
"

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9. Posted by Fambank, 14/10/2018 9:13

"Is he applying for a job a Liberty now ? And a reverse grid is all he comes up with ?

Ok Lewis, all the remaining races of this year you start last.

If they do that, everyone but Mclaren and Williams will either object beforehand, or drive as
slowly in Qualy as possible.

If you propose changes, you really have to come up with something more better, detailed and elaborate, but
thats just my 2 cents."

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Hamilton proposes GP "super weekends"

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