Gabriel Bortoleto pointed to a key issue with overtaking under the new F1 rules that became particularly evident during the Australian Grand Prix. "I made overtakes that I didn't want to make by mistake, because I had so much energy and the other car was clipping like crazy"
- Gabriel BortoletoSpeaking to
GPblog and other media after the race, the
Audi driver admitted he often found himself making overtakes he had not intended, adding that even after passing other cars it was not always clear whether the position had truly been secured due to the energy deployment issues.
"I made overtakes that I didn't want to make by mistake, because I had so much energy and the other car was clipping like crazy. You need to think a lot when you're racing.
"Last year everything was much more predictable, so as soon as you make an overtake, it was done. And now you make an overtake you need to calculate the next three straights because maybe the guy will overtake you back then you need to overtake him back in the other one and it keeps going like that until everyone is in the same state of energy."
He finally added: "A lot of things to be learned still. I wish I can give you more than this but also I'm still a bit confused with the regs and I'm guessing to know them better while we live them."
Why F1 bosses warn against knee-jerk changes to much-maligned new regulations
The topic also drew a response from Toto Wolff following the race in Australia, where Mercedes secured a commanding one-two finish. The Mercedes team principal was questioned about the criticism voiced by several drivers, particularly regarding the characteristics of the new cars and overtakes that some have labelled as ‘artificial’.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur likewise did not rule out the possibility of adjustments to the regulations. However, the Frenchman stressed that it would be wiser to gather more data over the opening rounds of the season before making any definitive judgement on whether rule changes are actually necessary.