Breaking news
Formula 1
Verstappen says overtaking more enjoyable this year
Max Verstappen says overtaking in Formula 1 this year is more enjoyable because drivers have to work harder to make a move stick.
Lawrence Barretto
Edited: Apr 25, 2017, 12:00 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
This year's generation of F1 cars have much higher downforce and shorter braking distances, making passing much more challenging for drivers.
There had been fears that overtaking would be very difficult and, as the table below shows, the number of passes has gone down.
In each of the first three races of the season - Australia, China and Bahrain - there have been fewer overtakes compared to the respective 2016 event.
Overtakes in the first three races*
Race 2016 2017 % change 
Australia 26 2 -92.3 
China 128 31 -75.8 
Bahrain 66 32 -51.5 Average 73 22
The 2016 Chinese GP figure is skewed slightly by Lewis Hamilton starting at the back of the grid while the race featured the most pitstops that season with 66 but the difference remains notable.
When the DRS overtaking aid was introduced in 2011, the number of passes nearly doubled from 452 to 821 and was nearly four times that of seasons during the late '90s and early '00s.
On the evidence of this year so far, the total number of overtakes is set to return to closer to a figure seen in the late '90s and early '00s.
But while the total number has reduced, the quality has arguably increased with a series of thrilling moves in China and Bahrain.
Verstappen, who in 2016 broke the record for the most overtakes in a single season with 78, believes the overtaking aid has had less of an impact this year and that is something he feels is a good thing.
"It's harder than it was last year but it's definitely not too bad," he said. "If you are on new tyres you still have one or two laps to really fight for it.
"This season the DRS is not as helpful. In China most of the passes were done without the DRS - it gives you more fun as well.
"Into Turn 6 in China is nice to overtake, especially when you are quite late on the brakes and if you go even later on the brakes is good."
*An overtaking move is classed as one that takes place during complete flying laps - so the opening lap is discounted - and is maintained all the way to the lap's finish line.
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 McLaren: We couldn't let Alonso's competitive streak "die"
Next article F1 will "struggle" to agree on 2021 engine rules - Renault
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lawrence Barretto
Sirotkin, Stroll to have two race engineers each
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sirotkin, Stroll to have two race engineers each
Hamilton "sacrifice" saved Mercedes an hour of testing
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton "sacrifice" saved Mercedes an hour of testing
Kubica regrets being "too honest" about driving limitations
Formula 1
Formula 1
Kubica regrets being "too honest" about driving limitations
More from
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 h
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Max Verstappen explains why he’s so good in the rain in Brazil
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Max Verstappen explains why he’s so good in the rain in Brazil
More from
Red Bull Racing
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Tsolov named Red Bull, Racing Bulls reserve driver after missing out on 2027 F1 race seat
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Latest news
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 10 min
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
11 min
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
Why Corvette’s new LMGT3 champion Jonny Edgar has a bright future
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
14 min
Why Corvette’s new LMGT3 champion Jonny Edgar has a bright future
Jack Miller explains what he wants to achieve in WorldSBK after MotoGP exit
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
45 min
Jack Miller explains what he wants to achieve in WorldSBK after MotoGP exit
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
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