George Russell has revealed that drivers intend speaking to the FIA and F1 about the lack of overtaking this season.

While the subject made the headlines following - no pun intended - the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the fact is that while the new regulations introduced last year allowed cars to follow more closely, the age-old problem of actually overtaking remains.

There are a number of reasons, including engineers getting on top of the rules to create more downforce and lesser slipstream effect, not forgetting the decision to shorten some of the existing zones.

Such was the processional nature of the Baku race, a number of drivers spoke out, while Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff described the event as "boring".

George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, says that drivers are to raise the issue with F1 and the FIA.

"We all want the best races, the most exciting races," he said. "And there's probably a few easier ways to achieve this in the short term, like tyre degradation, you know, it's been easy one-stops in the last couple of races.

"When everybody's pushing flat out, there are less exciting races," he added, "and obviously the DRS has gone in the wrong direction.

"So there's a couple of small things, but you know, for sure, we're going to speak with the FIA and F1 about this because, you know, we want to be able to race, we want to be able to fight, as we all did in in go-karts, where there was no aerodynamics. That's the ultimate dream.

"I think the sport took a really good turn for the better when these new cars were introduced," he insisted, "but we need to take it to the next step now."

However, the Mercedes driver admits that there must not be a knee-jerk reaction.

"For a couple of races now it's been challenging to overtake," he said. "For sure, Baku wasn't the most exciting race in the world. But there are a number of factors for that, but there should never be a knee-jerk reaction, but we were all talking about this issue prior to the race in Baku, and then the race obviously went on to be as dull as we all expected.

"It's challenging for everybody," he admitted. "Obviously, we're pushing Pirelli to deliver a good tyre, a consistent tyre and when it is difficult, you know, the drivers, myself included, we don't like it. But in an ideal world, you have a very strong tyre, which at a certain point falls off the cliff and means you have to do a few more pit stops and gives it some different opportunities in the races. But yeah, I'm not too sure really."

Esteban Ocon agrees that the lack of tyre deg is also a significant factor.

"Shortening up the DRS things doesn't help at all," said the Frenchman. "But there is something that, you know, we haven't been through yet, is that we've done three races with no degradation at the moment, which, you know, creates more difficulties to overtake I think.

"In Bahrain, we've seen much more overtaking than the last three and there was no deg in Australia, no deg in Jeddah, no deg in Baku. I think as soon as there's a bit more degradation, there's more fights and more fun on track."

"F1 created these regulations to help overtaking and following," said Russell, "and since they were introduced every single team has sort of developed naturally away from their initial intentions, as you sort of develop the car.

"So every car on the grid is very different compared to what, let's say, they were intended to look like 18 months ago or two years ago now or whenever it was.

"I think the overtaking is slowly getting more difficult but also because the slipstream isn't as large as well with these new cars so it's slowly going in the wrong direction for overtaking."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 15/05/2023 2:22

"@Defiant....Thank you for your comments. Your suggestion re using the DRS wherever and whenever is fine as that is what I'd envisaged anyway as the total time allowed would govern the overall usage. It seems quite simple really...that's probably the reason why it hasn't been implimented hahaha If one really wants to be creative why not incorporate the PTP allowances into the penalty system? Major infringements could attract a PTP Time reduction so that infringements could be carried over into following races. "

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2. Posted by Defiant, 14/05/2023 16:40

"@kenji, I like your idea regarding the limited use DRS, or as an alternative, how about just letting everyone use it whenever they like anywhere in the lap, this may not give the mix up that they seem to be wanting but it will get rid of the artificial aspect of it.
If they want more over taking, the simple move of going back to steel brakes would allow this right away. Not only would it extend the braking zones, it would also add the difficulty of managing the temps into the mix.
As for the GR and Ocon comments, if those two drivers were saying things that the other drivers don't approve of, there would be many many vocal objections, so although I understand your reasoning, I don't prescribe to it. "

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3. Posted by kenji, 14/05/2023 2:22

"@Superbird70,...regards Russell and the GPDA. Maybe he would be better off declaring a conflict of interest,which he surely has, and butts right out of the discussion. It won't happen of course...too altruistic, an attribute not to be wasted on Mercedes and their drivers, amongst others."

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4. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 13/05/2023 18:32

"Toto Wolff manages Ocon. "

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5. Posted by elsiebc, 13/05/2023 18:02

"@ToeKnee I finally went to Sebring this year and WEC was also part of the weekend. The full course yellows when a local would have sufficed nicely still bother me but overall there was some great racing. Sportscars and club racing typically run multiple classes simultaneously which creates action that would satisfy the fans of passing. But for the rest of us, when two matched cars battle corner after corner the overtakes are well deserved and respected. If contrived action is what they're after, maybe F1 ought to consider running on track with F2 at the same time. Of course then there's that whole Horner not-enough-garages issue."

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6. Posted by Superbird70, 13/05/2023 16:28

"Why is no one attacking Ocon's comments? Of the four GPDA directors , only Russell is an active driver. It makes sense for him to be the primary spokesperson. Don't shoot the messenger."

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7. Posted by kenji, 13/05/2023 14:17

"@Max Noble....well said. Mercedes are suffering . Their fall from total domination so quickly is no doubt an embarrassment and they are desperate to get back in front. So much so that they will use the good offices of the Drivers Assoc. which [ ahem ] just happens to have Russell as the director. What a coincidence!!! Call Ripley...."

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8. Posted by ToeKnee, 13/05/2023 13:53

"And many 50 year fans of F1 are reading this, as I plan to attend a few SportsCar races on f1 weekends!
Four manufacturers that are each capable of winning on any weekend, run by world-class teams with some of the best sports car drivers on the planet. That’s a promise fulfilled. Even if the promise was unspoken, when IMSA chose to bring back the GTP name, it was implied.
They actually put fuel in the car while pitting, what a concept!!"

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9. Posted by ToeKnee, 13/05/2023 13:36

"Passing has passed away like everything else competitive. How about fueling, we can have ole fashion fueling strategy? NOPE! How about tire wars, as the one tire manufacturer has been a complete flop? NOPE! F! has managed to eliminate anything that makes racing exciting, with strategy. So in America, just drink a lot of coffee for the early morning races, or doze off and think about yesteryear. Boy F1 was awesome 40 years ago!!"

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10. Posted by Greg, 13/05/2023 11:52

"And I don't mind @kenji's idea either. Limit the DRS times instead of just getting rid of it. I never liked the artificialness of it but the idea is still good."

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11. Posted by Greg, 13/05/2023 11:51

"Don't Mercedes remember when they dominated. Short term memory loss maybe. :-)"

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12. Posted by Max Noble, 13/05/2023 8:28

"@Kenji - with you on this. Russell has a vested interest in more overtaking as he is behind so many cars right now. V Max has no interested when he is in front… and has proven from a couple of very low grid start points that he can simply drive past anyone. No issue from Red Bull as their cars are fast out the front in clear air, and can overtake on demand…

The Mercedes is slow, and George is now resorting to politics to get an overtake…
"

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13. Posted by kenji, 13/05/2023 2:51

"One must not overlook just who is making all the running here. Russell is hardly likely to remain neutral when assessing the 'passing ops' available to the teams. Strange that just when RB seemed to have finessed the DRS benefits that a Mercedes driver pushes the envelope for radical changes. As if convincing the FIA to shortening the zones wasn't enough he now wants even greater 'joke 'tyres!! Look beyond the rhetoric to see the real agenda. Mercedes cannot cut the mustard ATPIT so let's try and nobble the comp. In the final analysis i would again suggest that the DRS be maintained but limited to a finite number of implementations during a race, now that would seriously tax the strategists. As an example say in any race the DRS can be used for up to 50% of the laps with a total time of use covering a set total time. The benefits of this are that it opens up a myriard of combinations and is in fact an adaptation of the American PTP ideas. It's worthwhile looking at until such time as it isn't."

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14. Posted by Superbird70, 12/05/2023 20:51

"@Italian Job- add narrowing and shortening the cars, and make the wings circa 1970's style single element. Also only
one tire compound for all tracks. Let the real racers get to grips with that."

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15. Posted by Greg, 12/05/2023 18:03

"Agree there Italian job. They are now asking for more tyre degradation from Pirelli. I feel for them as they would most likely want to make a tyre that lasts, not wears out after 10 laps. F1 going green.... Make the cars a lot simpler and have the drivers have to drive them, and not the back office."

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Drivers to discuss lack of overtaking

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