Drivers optimistic about new rules: 'Going in the right direction'

Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly think Formula 1 has moved in the right direction with the new rules for 2022 but that there is still room for improvement. Speaking to Formula1.com both drivers say it is just a matter of time before the new rules achieve their intended purpose.

A whole set of new technical rules went into effect in 2022 intending to reduce the distance between the top teams and the rest of the field. That didn't quite work out: this season, the teams were mainly divided into three groups that hardly ever interacted. Within those groups, however, the battle was regularly very exciting and in that respect, Sainz says the rules have been a success.

"I think Formula 1 got it right in principle," said the Ferrari driver. "In general, I think these new cars have allowed us to race closer, to be able to overtake in places and corners or in circuits where before it was always more difficult, so I think the racing is more exciting. The field spread is still relatively big, but as soon as these regulations stabilise, I think we are all going to converge and the championship is just going to keep getting more and more interesting with the passing of the years and the races. I think it’s been the right direction."

'I would have liked to have seen a bit more variety'

Gasly thinks pretty much the same as Sainz. "It seems like it’s easier for us to follow on some tracks. So definitely on that side, I think they’ve been improving the sport," said the Frenchman, who will drive for Alpine next year. "I was hoping that we could see a bit more variety in the finishing order, like in the top finishing orders, with maybe more midfield teams getting the chance to fight for podiums. Hopefully, this is something that can improve over the next couple of years and get the field closer together, have more teams fighting for podiums."