Carlos Sainz Sr. Has sharply criticized the new Formula 1 regulations. The Spaniard, father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr. And a multiple-time rally champion, has voiced a more outspoken opinion than his son. Sainz Jr. Previously called out Max Verstappen for being overly critical of the new F1 rules.
Following testing in Bahrain, Carlos Sainz Jr. Stated that Max Verstappen had judged the new regulations in motorsport’s premier class too quickly. According to his former teammate at Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Dutchman damaged the reputation of F1 by publicly denouncing the rule changes.
But to his surprise, Sainz Jr. Now finds his own father adding fuel to the fire. The multiple-time rally champion, who ran for FIA president last year, admits he finds the new rules terrible and believes the F1 he loves no longer exists. This puts Sainz Sr. In agreement with Max Verstappen – and at odds with his son.
“These new regulations have changed the DNA of Formula 1. And I don’t like it at all,” Sainz Sr. Told Spanish publication El Confidencial “Liberty Media and the FIA demand to intervene as soon as possible.”
Sainz compared the changes in F1 to a shift in soccer: “It’s as if we started playing a different way, with a different ball and a smaller goal.”
The Spaniard also believes overtaking has lost its artistry. Previously, a driver’s skill determined how easy or difficult a pass would be. Now, it depends on battery power. He described it as artificial, not genuine.
“It has become too easy and artificial, both in corners and on straights. In Australia, I didn’t see hard braking or big maneuvers, only overtaking maneuvers that felt a bit fake. The quality and character of the Formula 1 races as we knew them were missing.”
“I suppose F1 should be simple and intuitive, and spectators shouldn’t have to study to understand what’s happening during a race. This one is particularly complex; there are too many parameters, from superclipping to overtake mode. Even I find it difficult to understand,” concluded a highly critical Sainz.
