Breaking news
Formula 1 Australian GP
Grosjean: F1 cars now "easy to follow" but not overtake
Romain Grosjean says the new Formula 1 aero rules for 2019 have made it “easy to follow” other cars, if not overtake them.
Valentin Khorounzhiy Andrew van Leeuwen
Published: Mar 17, 2019, 7:15 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
F1 had pushed through changes to the technical regulations, including simplified front and rear wings and restrictions to the bargeboards and brake ducts, in order to boost overtaking this year.
The changes did not gather universal support from the teams, and there were widespread doubts that the measure would be effective, which Red Bull team boss Christian Horner saying the change had been an expensive “mistake”.
After the 2019 season opener in Australia, Haas driver Grosjean said it has indeed become easier for F1 cars to follow each other – but insisted overtaking opportunities remain limited, due to the nature of the current Pirelli tyres.
Grosjean found himself stuck behind the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi, running on much older tyres, for several laps during the Melbourne race.
“The new rules for the aero, it's easy to follow another car, which is good,” he said.
“But the tyres are still overheating as soon as you push, so it's very, very difficult to overtake.
“And if you noticed it took how many laps to pass Giovinazzi, it's just too difficult to push on the tyre, they overheat and that's it.
“You lose the grip and you cannot get close enough.
“It's good on TV I think but the next step is to get more robust tyres to get better racing.”
Grosjean, who retired with a loose front-left wheel when on course for a potential fourth-place finish in Australia last year, suffered another costly DNF in the 2019 Melbourne race.
He once again had a front-left issue, the wheel coming off a few laps after a slow pitstop.
“Deja vu,” he said. “Second year in a row, same problem. Third year in a row retiring here while I'm into the points.
“Australia doesn't like me. I love being here, we've had a good weekend all weekend long... but, yeah, shame.
“It's not where you want to start, it's not easy to digest but we need to work all together, as a team we grow up and make sure that doesn't happen again.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bottas stunned by his "best race ever" in F1
Next article Visor tear-off forced Raikkonen into early pitstop
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Romain Grosjean
Romain Grosjean apologises to McLaren after controversial, unfounded comments
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Romain Grosjean apologises to McLaren after controversial, unfounded comments
Winners and losers from the IndyCar doubleheader at Milwaukee
IndyCar
IndyCar
Milwaukee Race 2
Winners and losers from the IndyCar doubleheader at Milwaukee
Mick Schumacher and Romain Grosjean talk on pit road after Milwaukee clash
IndyCar
IndyCar
Milwaukee Race 2
Mick Schumacher and Romain Grosjean talk on pit road after Milwaukee clash
More from
Haas F1 Team
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Did Haas make the correct decision in signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027?
Latest news
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
31 min
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
2 h
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
4 h
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe