Breaking news
Formula 1
Vettel: F1 needs to be extreme again
Formula 1 is right to bring back extreme cars that force drivers to be brave and put a premium far more on pure talent, according to Sebastian Vettel.
Jonathan Noble
Published: May 22, 2015, 12:27 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
With technical chiefs due to begin formal talks in Monaco about framing 2017 rule proposals to make F1 cars around five seconds per lap faster, Vettel has urged those in charge to deliver machinery that is more challenging.
"I am very old school," said Vettel. "I would like to have a much bigger engine, I don't know if it turbo or not, better tyres...more grip, so the cars are faster in general.
"The first time I drove an F1 car to be honest I was scared and now I don't think you get that impression any more. The step from GP2 to F1 is not very big.
"It is still difficult to drive fast, but probably back in the years you needed a little bit bigger balls, which is what the drivers would appreciate and also the fans."
F1 too technical
Vettel thinks that F1 has put too much emphasis in recent years on car and engine performance – and not enough on the talent of the men in the cockpit.
"Driving should always be the core, and I think it has been discussed a lot in the past period of F1 with the cars getting slower," he said. "In the end you are looking for the fastest driver.
"And in the end you should not change the core of the sport which is that the fastest driver should win. I think maybe to more and more of an extreme we have gone away from that a bit."
Vettel hopes fans agree
In his role as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), Vettel has helped launch a Global Fan Survey.
He believes that feedback from fans will show that they too want things to change and give the sport's bosses a clear idea of the changes that need to be made to make F1 more popular..
"I think it has been largely confusing the last one-and-a-half years about what people want or don't want, because many times you only read or hear what individuals are saying.
"Unfortunately in F1, it is mostly what individuals want to see because it might benefit them. The [Fan] Survey is completely independent and it is really a chance for the fans to have a vote, so we can finally find out what people actually want.
"We hope to learn and understand what the people actually want. Obviously there is a chance now to click and vote on what you would like to see and that gives everyone a much better understanding of what is the truth.
"There has been a lot of talk going back and forth so I think it is good to finally find out."
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 F1 under pressure to ban alcohol sponsorship
Next article Lack of running leaves teams seeking answers on tyres in Monaco
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel: F1 must combine “things we love” with sustainable future
More from
Ferrari
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Ferrari promotes F2 racer to F1 reserve driver role
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
The six drivers doing double duty in Portimao GTWCE and Barcelona WEC this weekend
Latest news
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
4 h
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
Bubba Wallace laments mistake after heartbreaking Phoenix loss
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
NASCAR is getting the championship finish it has pursued since 1992
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