Norris doubts the impact of the new regulations

The new regulations are intended to make it easier for drivers to overtake and drive closer together. This is all done to make races more exciting. So much for the theory. Whether it will happen in practice, as F1 bosses hope, remains to be seen.

The new regulations are intended to reduce turbulence caused by "dirty air" and increase downward pressure. This should therefore make overtaking and tracking easier. McLaren driver Lando Norris admits that he is not sure if the new technical rules that come into effect in 2022 will necessarily have the desired effect of indeed making races more exciting.

During the press presentation of his new F1 car, Norris says that being so difficult to overtake actually made for exciting duels. He refers to the Grand Prix in Hungary, in which Lewis Hamilton had lots of problems passing Fernando Alonso. "That was one of the best battles of the season," the Briton believes.

With the new regulations, it would be easier for Hamilton to outsmart Alonso in such a case. At the same time, Norris admits, there were too few such duels last season. "There were not many battles because as soon as you get two seconds behind someone, you lose downforce and you can't do anything." That's precisely what the changed rules should have solved.