Gerhard Berger doesn't think 2017 changes are right for F1

Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger is unsure whether next year's rule changes are the right thing for F1.

While Berger said the new rules were taking F1 "visually the right way", he admitted whether the wider tyres and radical bodywork changes would provide a real challenge to drivers.

"Whether it will bring to the show what we hope for, I doubt it," he told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV. "There will indeed be faster lap times of two, three, four seconds. But the fans don't see the lap time on the TV or the race track."

Berger said that F1 needs to reduce grip and increase power, using MotoGP as an example.

"The most spectacular motor sport at the moment is MotoGP," he said. "It looks much more spectacular (than F1) but it's 20 seconds per lap slower.

"It is the ratio of power to grip that is completely different in Formula One, and I believe that is the key to more spectacular races," added Berger.

"If you halved the grip and had a third more power, the cars would be extremely difficult to handle. That's the direction formula one should go in.

"In my time we had spectacular races with up to 1400 horse power with half the downforce of today. It was like steering a cannonball around a track.

"We couldn't even talk on the radio because we had no breath, and after the race we had to be helped out of the car because we were so tired. We have to go back to that," Berger insisted.

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • ringo

    Posts: 3,633

    he got a point. Weak drivers will show up soon :) They say wider tired more speed.. but otherside you must make engine more stable because 3 engine a year so de engine part will be tuned down so, do you get te max speed? mayby a few races not a whole season... mayby is it good mayby i dont know next year you will see, Merces could have some races to forward but it downgrades because of lack of engine.

    • + 0
    • Sep 29 2016 - 18:23

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar