THE Formula 1 world is fighting for Madring circuit changes after a much-anticipated Spanish Grand Prix flopped.
The new track hosted the inaugural race and despite four-time champion Max Verstappen calling the track a “car killer” – it offered little in the drama department.
Formula 1 world is fighting for Madring circuit changes after a much-anticipated Spanish Grand Prix flopped Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Kimi Antonelli claimed his eighth win of 14 races this year Credit: AFP
The newly-built street circuit offered barely any opportunities for drivers to overtake in Jattvibeday’s race.
Speaking on Jattvibeday evening, Norris revealed: “I think there are some obvious changes they should make.
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“They should get rid of [Turns] 18, 19. Useless. Just have more of a straight into a hairpin.
“Like, I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes, ‘mint.’
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Lando Norris told off in cooldown room after Spanish GP but F1 star snaps back
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“I think there’s a lot of opportunity.
“I’m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes.
“It can be a great racetrack. To me, it’s not a great racetrack.”
But it seems that organisers are keen on feedback, having already listened to potential changes during Friday’s regular drivers’ briefing – held after the first two hours of track action in practice.
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Oliver Bearman also had suggestions for track alterations Credit: Getty
Haas driver Oliver Bearman said: “It doesn’t take a genius to make a track layout that lends itself to overtaking.
“They managed to do it in Baku and Baku had a lot more limitations with buildings around it.
“On that sense, it’s been a bit of a disappointment, but hopefully next year it will be a bit more interesting.
“When you arrive and you see that layout and you are like, ‘what do you expect us to do,’ it’s a bit disappointing …
“Basically from Turn 5, all the way from 17, there was a bit of free rein, let’s say.
“I don’t think that free rein was used to the best of its potential.”
Wonderkid Kimi Antonelli claimed his eighth win in 14 races this year on the Spanish circuit as he looks to secure the driver’s championship.
McLaren’s Lando Norris lost out after leading comfortably from pole position when the virtual safety car was called on lap 15.
Both fans and participants reckon there should be more opportunities for overtaking Credit: Getty
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While Antonelli and Red Bull’s Verstappen were able to pit, Norris had already passed the pit exit.
Race champ Antonelli, 20, said: “It definitely doesn’t create overtaking opportunities.
“It doesn’t push you to try and make a move because 80% of the time you might have a contact.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has held his hands up to give the organisers a bit of credit.
He said: “We can discuss about overtaking, but overall for me the event was mega.
“We have also to be fair with them and to congratulate Madrid for the job done on this side.
“Now they came to us on Thursday [and again] on Friday evening to see if we think that it will be difficult to overtake.
“They are keen to do modifications in the future, they have probably more latitude in Madrid than in Monaco to change something and let’s work together to see if we can do something.”
The Azerbaijani Grand Prix – on the Baku City Circuit – is up next on September 26.
