Formula 1 introduced a series of changes to the aerodynamics ahead of the 2019 F1 season. The majority of these changes were focused on the front wing and were included to allow cars to follow closer.
At the half-way point, Lewis Hamilton claims the changes have made no improvement when it comes to following a car closely behind.
“That wing has not made any difference to the turbulence. It really hasn’t. It’s just as bad as before I would say," Hamilton is quoted by RaceFans.
Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas had a good battle in the opening laps of the British Grand Prix. This set the tone for further battles throughout the field, including numerous Ferrari/Red Bull fights, and Renault/McLaren fights. When questioned on this, Hamilton explained this is due to the track type. He also says he would have been able to fight his Mercedes teammate for longer had it not been for the tyres fading.
“This track is special in the sense that the wind direction and the way that the layout is, you’re able to follow. But still, it’s not good enough because the tyres drop off. Me and Valtteri were having that fight, if we didn’t have thermal degradation, because the car is too heavy and the tyres overheat, I could’ve just stayed on his tail and kept racing.
"But eventually, I had to give up because after God knows how many laps behind in that battle the tyres dropped off a cliff and then you have to back up and you have to go to a different strategy. I’m hoping in the future they are able to make a tyre that goes longer," Hamilton concluded.
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