Nov.30 (GMM) Drivers say Sunday’s Qatar GP is more likely to be a processional affair after a dash that strengthened the circuit’s continual incapability to supply thrilling racing.
Fernando Alonso was blunt, telling DAZN the dash was not even a race.
“It was a procession of automobiles,” he mentioned.
“In at this time’s F1 we have now tyre pressures dictated by Pirelli, pitstops dictated by the FIA, weight distribution dictated by the FIA.
“We now have excesses of all the things besides the issues that give a spectacle,” the 44-year-old veteran added.
Lando Norris – who will clinch the title on Sunday if he wins from P3 – is anticipating a lot the identical.
“The run to Flip 1 is the one alternative,” he mentioned. “Other than that, it’s going to be a reasonably boring and easy race.”
Max Verstappen agreed the dash was “fairly boring”, blaming the lack to comply with.
“You simply can’t comply with – the tyres overheat. With all of the high-speed corners and the grip, it’s tremendous powerful to get shut.”
Even DRS isn’t serving to, Norris added, as a result of “as quickly as you’re inside three seconds, you begin to wrestle.”
There have been whispers about lengthening the DRS zone for Sunday, however some groups pushed again over setup considerations.
George Russell – who by no means even reached DRS vary within the dash – mentioned the format merely doesn’t permit overtaking. “It wouldn’t matter if DRS was 3 times longer,” he mentioned.
“With all of the flat-out corners earlier than the straight, it’s inconceivable to remain shut. It’s the most effective tracks to drive, however overtaking? One of many hardest. One thing must be completed.”
