Formula 1 races should be more uncertain: Martin Whitmarsh
McLaren’s team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes that Formula 1 should be more unpredictable in order to keep the audience motivated and entertained throughout the year.
He thinks that Kinetic Energy Recovery System and movable rear wings will be easier to adjust according to the teams’ likings.
The sport’s governing body, International Automobile Federation, (FIA) has re-introduced KERS and movable rear wings for the 2011 season to increase the excitement level of the sport.
“In F1 it is accentuated because of the professionalism of the teams, and the quality of the drivers, so it is even more difficult. Overtaking in most categories is a consequence of a mistake by the guy in front - and mistakes are less common in F1,” said
Martin.
The move was highly criticised by most of the fans as it would decrease the amount of control that was required before but one has to admit, overtaking is one of the main elements of Formula 1 and most of the fans enjoy overtaking more than the rest of the
aspects of the sport.
“I don't think it is going to be that easy to overtake, but there is going to be a variety of KERS users as well. So you are potentially going to have a stalled wing attack fought off with a KERS defence in some instances,” he added.
Martin believes that it would not be as predictable as people think it is. He said that there is going to be a variety of strategies a team can use in order to apply their desired manoeuvre. Other than that, he stated that overtaking was always difficult
but never impossible in Formula 1.
“It is very fashionable to say that what we need in F1 is more overtaking. I lost count of moves last year, as Lewis [Hamilton] in the first four races did about 39 competitive overtakes. So they [overtaking moves] are there. I don't think overtaking is
an important as some people think it is,” said Martin.
Whitmarsh thinks that people want “uncertainty of outcome” during both the qualifying sessions and main races.
However, it would be interesting to see how the teams use KERS and movable rear wings in 2011 and how much they add to the excitement level of the sport.
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