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Formula One

Sebastian Vettel: F1 is “too complex”

The four-time world champion believes the sport has lost its way

Published: 16 Feb 2016

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has criticised Formula One in an interview on his website, saying that “complicated rules” and the domination of Mercedes has made fans lose interest in grand prix racing.

“I believe that primarily it should be about sport and accordingly which driver is fastest,” said the German. “We should not lose sight of the motorsport's roots and that in future we are able to once again identify with the cars.”

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Since hybrid engines were introduced in 2014, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have won 32 out of 38 races contested, with the remaining six grands prix shared between Daniel Ricciardo and Vettel himself with three victories apiece.

Discontent over the regulations has also been growing, with DRS, high-deg tyres, quieter engines and a complicated penalty system all bearing the brunt of the fans’ frustration in recent seasons.

"The new rules focus too much on details,” continued Vettel. “Today the car plays an important role, like it did in the past, but we shouldn't get lost in overcomplicated rules. At the moment F1 is just too complex and we're lacking sound.”

Attempts to address concerns about the lack of noise have been made over the winter, with teams adopting a new exhaust system in an effort to make the sport louder.

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Many teams have now released teaser clips of their engines being fired up, and while there’s little doubt that the cars are indeed noisier, the engine note itself continues to divide opinion.

When TG asked readers if F1 should keep hybrid engines, 55% said ‘yes’, however dissatisfaction over the sound they make was impossible to ignore.

The irony is that the hybrid ‘whir’ itself will now be harder to ignore than ever before...

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