Max Verstappen doesn’t want the regulations to change too often

Red Bull has taken a lead over the rest of the pack with the 2022 regulations, particularly in regards to ground effects, and is expected to dominate the discipline for the second consecutive year with a certain advantage over its rivals Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin.

Like in previous eras of dominance, such as Mercedes’ hegemony at the beginning of the hybrid era, critics have suggested that Red Bull’s supremacy is bad for Formula 1, just at a time when the sport is trying to capitalize on its recent surge in popularity among a new audience.

But for Verstappen, once again the favorite to win a third consecutive world championship, not changing the technical regulations too often is what will ultimately allow the rivals to catch up and end Red Bull’s domination.

“We have always seen this in Formula 1, it’s not new,” said Verstappen in a press conference on Thursday. “I think the longer you leave the regulations unchanged, the closer people will get. So maybe it’s something we need to examine. But you have a year or two where there are two teams fighting, maybe potentially a third team, but overall, when you look at the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and the early 2010s until 2020, it’s a pure domination by certain teams.”

The championship leader believes that even if adjustments are made too frequently, a team will always find something a little better than the others and it will take some time for everyone to catch up, from my point of view.

Same tune at Russell’s

George Russell, who joined the Brackley team at the end of their series of eight consecutive constructors’ championships, added: « I agree with what Max said, there have always been dominant teams in Formula 1. And I don’t know how we can reach a situation where multiple drivers and teams will fight for the championship, because I think that would be the best for the sport, the best for all of us. Fans would love it, but it’s obvious that we can’t always get what we dream of. »

For the young British driver, the new aerodynamic testing restriction system, which reduces the amount of wind tunnel work teams can do as they finish higher in the championship, has not yet had a significant impact on the hierarchy.

« It has only been two years since the aerodynamic regulations and the handicap system have been in place, but they haven’t changed much in the hierarchy, explained Russell. « The only team that could be discussed is perhaps Aston Martin, but I think it’s probably thanks to some engineers who have joined the team to help them go in the right direction. »