Always a difficult track on which to take, it would be wrong to assess the impact of the new aero regulations on yesterday's season opener alone. Indeed, it was in the wake of last year's race - which featured just five passes - that the sport's powers-that-be introduced the changes.

And while - not for the first time - Max Verstappen produced arguably the move of the race with his pass on Sebastian Vettel, there was also Lando Norris' bold move on Antonio Giovinazzi.

On the other hand, other than (ahem), Charles Leclerc holding station behind Sebastian Vettel, there was the obvious frustration of Pierre Gasly being unable to pass Daniil Kvyat, which, if nothing else, allowed the Russian some well-deserved personal satisfaction.

Asked their opinion at race end whether the new aero regulations make following a car any easier, the three podium finishers appeared to be in agreement.

"Ask Valtteri how it was following!" joked Verstappen.

"No different," said Lewis Hamilton, who, when asked if he really felt there was no improvement on previous season, again said: "No!"

"I had no chance to get by," said Verstappen, of his desire to pass Hamilton for second. "It is still very hard.

"The only positive thing what we improved is the DRS effect," he added. "So, as soon as it opens, it's a lot more powerful than last year but following is still a lot of turbulence."

Out front for the entire race, asked if he noticed a difference when encountering traffic, Bottas admitted: "It was quite... I didn't get close enough to traffic ahead to really see a difference."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Superbird70, 26/03/2019 0:10

"Maybe one way to encourage passing is to make them drive between the curbs without using the run-off areas. If you had to stay between the lines you would have to slow down or brake earlier and maybe some drivers with ability could pass on merit instead of relying on the DRS. Get rid of the front wings as well."

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2. Posted by Yaryman, 21/03/2019 18:30

"In 1969 NASA was able to land two men on the moon and safely return them using a computer with 64K of memory. NOT 64GB, NOT 64MB, but 64K memory.
Yet today when your phone has computing power unimaginable during that 1969 trip to the moon, the "rocket scientists" in F1 can't figure out how to make a race car that can be passed. "

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3. Posted by Trixi, 18/03/2019 19:18

"It's going to be crazy at Monaco...."

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4. Posted by imejl99, 18/03/2019 13:53

"It is quite early to determine after one race, but maybe biggest effect of aero changes can be less tyre degradation previously experienced when close following? No one asked that question?"

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5. Posted by bfairey, 18/03/2019 13:48

"Get rid of that stupid wing, you are going to see more of them falling off
or causing punctures. Make it a simple board with rounded corners no
wider than the inside of the tires."

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Following rivals still difficult admit podium finishers

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