22/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Not for nothing was Nigel Mansell known as Il Leone by the tifosi, the Briton proving as hard-nosed and determined in a Ferrari as he had been in the Lotus and Williams.
Though his out-of-cockpit persona left a lot to be desired, many in the paddock still suffering the after effects of the whine seemingly forever emanating from his garage, once behind the wheel there were none braver, none more exciting.
Nowadays, the Briton is clearly more at ease with himself and the world, including F1; as well as attending numerous races as a steward, he has built a loyal following on Twitter with his insightful, passionate and intelligent thoughts.
Never backward in sharing his opinion, ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, the Briton has voiced his opinion on the current states of F1, and like many he is not happy.
"They must change the rules, and I've been saying that for years," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "In my era you were lucky if you had three engineers, while there are thirty in the pit box at this time. Tires were wider, but we still slipped around corners which allowed a driver to show their style.
"Today the cars are easy to drive, as the pit wall tells you everything all the time and the drivers aren't able to show their abilities," he added. "If you are aggressive, you wear out the tyres, therefore you must go slower. And things like the DRS are madness: what skill is there in passing in that manner?"
Another aspect of contemporary F1 that rankles Mansell is the reliance on simulators. Indeed, whilst impressed by rookie Max Verstappen, the Briton feels that the manner in which he has become so competitive, so young and so quickly, is indicative of the direction F1 is heading.
"It is clear he has talent, but he is the perfect example of how drivers evolve today. It's surprising to see him so fast on tracks he has never been on before, but that is thanks to the simulators. He doesn't need to know the car, as the engineers take care of that.
"He also has one less thing to worry about thanks to improved safety. His accident in Monaco would have cost him in the past, as many others have had to retire after similar incidents."
Asked which driver, Hamilton, Vettel or Alonso is best, Mansell replies: "They are three great drivers. I would like to see them in the same car to find that out.
"Lewis has a great team, wins with little trouble and that is why everything is easy for him. He is enjoying himself and is relaxed. Like Sir Jackie Stewart said, he is racing on a red carpet.
"More competition, and a Ferrari that is closer in performance to Mercedes, is needed, so that things would be like my era when Senna, Prost, Piquet and I were always fighting."
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