Lewis Hamilton believes the much vaunted rules overhaul introduced last season hasn't delivered.

While the FIA's decision to amend the rules in light of the bouncing that affected a number of teams last season following the massive rules overhaul, some now believe the sport's governing body went the wrong way, especially in terms of raising the floors.

While at the start of 2022 much was made of the new simplicity of the cars under the new rules we now see the technical directors introducing all manner of 'additions' in the form of wings and slots, exactly the sort of expensive, fanciful architecture the sport was seeking to move away from.

As a result, while overtaking clearly improved last season, we are now seeing a return to the situation whereby drivers are able to close in on a rival but then have to back off as a result of the loss of grip .

In some quarters it is felt that further rule changes need to be introduced to aid overtaking though this could only be done on safety grounds, and with the bouncing seemingly a thing of the past this rules out that particular little loophole.

As a result, the boffins at F1 Towers are seeking other ways including increasing the number of zones, as was the case in Melbourne where there were four, and extending them.

Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton agrees that the overhaul hasn't delivered.

Asked about dirty air this season and whether the new rules have changed things, his response was: "Nope, it's the same as the past.

"Last year for us was pretty bad with the bouncing," he continued, according to Motorsport Week, "because you've got the turbulence and the bouncing, whereas this year we don't have the bouncing, so we have less issues following cars.

"I think it's still a little bit better than the previous generation of cars," he admitted. "But hasn't delivered everything that it said it would, so got some improvements to make hopefully for the future.”

Ross Brawn, the driving force behind the rules overhaul had said the changes would allow midfield teams to challenge for podiums, even wins, and while Aston Martin is currently taking the sport by storm, the overhaul hasn't exactly turned the sport on its head.

As a result we still find ourselves relying on the artificiality of DRS, a field in which, judging by this year's results so far, Red Bull is in a league of its own.

Indeed, as George Russell increasingly becomes the mouthpiece for his Mercedes bosses, one wonders if the Briton's suggestion that the Austrian team is "holding back" in case "the sport is going to try and hold them back somehow", is a hint that plans to stymie Adrian Newey's masterpiece are already afoot.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Stitch431, 12/04/2023 7:18

"He did not seem to mind when Mercedes was in front ... However, the rules overhaul did accomplish that cars can now follow each other and overtake better than two years ago. The difference is that Mercedes did not do their homework properly. And now they all start whining like babies whose toys have been stolen. "

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2. Posted by Abies, 07/04/2023 8:17 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 07/04/2023 9:01)

"LH is just a sore loser..."

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3. Posted by Max Noble, 07/04/2023 5:31

"Aston are storming up the charts due to engineering quality, not rule changes. Red Bull are winning due to engineering brilliance, not rule changes. Mercedes are suffering due to a lack of inventive engineering, not rule changes… See a pattern here?
The rule changes are designed to crush engineering ability… but as the FIA employs engineers that teams no longer want… the teams will always be one step ahead on rule changes.
What Lewis really wanted to say was “… if only Toto could convince Adrian to join us, all would be well, and I’d love every rule change, because Adrian would bury everyone regardless.”
"

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4. Posted by TokyoAussie, 07/04/2023 3:46

"Hasn't delivered for Lewis, maybe."

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5. Posted by ARL, 06/04/2023 20:12

"Veering off at a slight tangent, the suggestion that George is now the preferred mouthpiece reminded me of a remark by Toto after the race.

He suggested that George might have won the race if his engine had not blown up, now stop sniggering at the obvious. The point being that Lewis was not in the race for the win unless Max blew up, but Mercedes thought that Gorgeous George was. Sort of the Old Grey Hair ain't wot he used to be - maybe."

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6. Posted by BillH, 06/04/2023 19:38

"The budget cap will fix this... oh wait..."

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7. Posted by elsiebc, 06/04/2023 19:25

"When was Lewis driving in the wake of another car last weekend? "

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8. Posted by Kkiirmki, 06/04/2023 18:09

"What he really means is that the rules overhaul hasn't delivered for Mercedes."

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9. Posted by Tardis40, 06/04/2023 17:04

"I don't see Red Bull having any difficulty overtaking."

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Rules overhaul hasn't delivered, says Hamilton

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