F1 must change 'power to grip' ratio - Berger

F1 needs to turn a revolutionary corner in order to revive the spectacle of the past. That is the view of Gerhard Berger, speaking just a few days before F1's end-of-April deadline for agreeing a set of different technical rules for 2017.

The latest rumours are that, in addition to wider tyres and more downforce, the sport might slightly relax its fuel usage limits but Berger, an F1 legend, warns that it all might not be enough. "It's all just fine-tuning," said the former Ferrari and McLaren driver.

"Look at MotoGP with 270 horse power on two very narrow tyres -- the difference between power and grip is huge," Berger told motorsport-magazin.com. "Another example is the 80s, when we (F1) had 1400hp and probably half the downforce of today -- these were things that you really had to master."

But that doesn't mean Berger thinks F1, whose turbo V6 engines are now approaching 1000hp, should simply reverse its 2017 blueprint and slash downforce. "No, that would be totally wrong," he said. "I would change the ratio. If you calculate the average downforce we had at that time and then look at how much power we had, it may well be that (now) we need 2000hp. I think it's the (power to grip) ratio that has to change," Berger added. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar