‘Changed nothing' – Lewis Hamilton slams F1 rule change as ‘waste of money' and says ‘we should be giving it to charity'
LEWIS HAMILTON slammed the 'waste of money' flexi-wing rule change after qualifying in Barcelona.
The seven-time world champion out-qualified teammate Charles Leclerc for only the second time this season to take fifth in Barcelona.
5
It came after Oscar Piastri pipped McLaren teammate Lando Norris to pole position after a blistering lap.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third fastest ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell.
All the talk in Spain this week has been about the potential impact of the FIA's clampdown on the flexing of front wings.
In January the sport's governing body released a technical directive for more stringent flexibility tests on front wings that would be introduced in Barcelona.
The FIA hopes this might close up the pecking order on the grid, particularly those chasing high-flying McLaren.
But fuming Hamilton said: 'The balance is definitely not as nice as what we had before. It hasn't made any [difference to the leaders].
'What a waste of money, it's just wasted everyone's money. It's literally changed nothing.
money to make these. It doesn't make sense.
'We should be giving it to charity.'
One of F1's most recognisable voices reveals Leclerc and Hamilton moments that will live with him forever
McLaren bagged their first front row lock out in Barcelona since 1998 with Piastri and Norris looking red hot.
When asked if McLaren are untouchable, Hamilton replied: 'Yeah. It's an amazing job they've done. To me it's half a second, but to the guys in front it is three tenths.
'It's not an insurmountable amount that you could catch up, but for example, a lot of work, months, went into developing and getting a tenth of performance.
'We don't have half a second coming, that's for sure, which is what I would need to topple them.'
5
5
Hamilton is still gunning for a first podium of the season, adding: "My target is to try and get to the podium. I haven't been on the podium for a long time.
'The car is so much different to what I drove previous years. So through the weekend, I'm having to adapt this new driving style, which is horrible.'
Piastri has vowed to not let the title scrap between him and Norris get between him, but things could all go pear shaped in sunny Spain.
Just three points separate the two McLaren team-mates in the drivers' standings following Norris' win at Monaco last weekend with Piastri still ahead.
Norris seems to be feeling the pressure of the title race more though as he produced a scrappy final lap and rued 'too many mistakes' in the final qualifying session.
The two McLarens battled to and fro in Q3 with Norris coming out trumps after the first run to take provincial pole before Piastri's moment of magic.
There had been drama earlier on as fuming Williams driver Alex Albon slammed 'dirty, dirty' Haas drivers who he felt drove purposely slow as he was knocked out in Q2.
Red Bull's No2 driver conundrum continued with Yuki Tsunoda's situation going from bad to worse as he suffered a nightmare last place position in qualifying.
It was the third race in a row where he was out-qualified by both drivers from Red Bull's junior team Racing Bulls.
Meanwhile Carlos Sainz was left miserable as he was booted out in Q1 for Williams at his home Grand Prix.
5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Britain backs routine, mandatory eye tests for drivers - as one in four road users have not checked their vision in the past two years
The public has backed mandatory eye tests for drivers amid alarm over crashes caused by poor sight. Nearly one in four drivers (24 per cent) have not had an eye test in the past two years, a new survey suggests. The poll, commissioned by insurer Churchill, comes amid growing concern over the lack of checks on drivers once they pass their test. Drivers in the UK must read a number plate 20 metres away as part of their driving test, but that is the only time they are required to prove their sight is good enough to drive. The NHS recommends people have their eyes tested every two years. Motorists are required to self-declare if they have a medical condition that could affect their ability to drive. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander received a prevention of future deaths report from HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley in April, which related to the deaths of four people killed by drivers with failing eyesight. The motorists had ignored the advice of opticians that their sight had deteriorated to a level where they should no longer drive. The Churchill survey suggested that 83 per cent of UK adults would support compulsory eye tests for drivers every decade. The figure rises to 88 per cent for those who would be in favour of sight exams every three years once drivers reach 70 years old. Some 12 per cent of drivers surveyed admitted they either thought their sight was not road legal, or were not sure it was. Department of Transport (DfT) figures show 240 people were injured and seven were killed in crashes on Britain's roads in 2023 in which defective eyesight was a factor. That was the most casualties since 2017, when the total was 262. Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance at Churchill, said: 'It seems surprising that UK drivers never need to prove that their eyesight is safe enough for driving once they have passed their driving test. 'What is even more remarkable is that some people continue to drive despite suspecting that their eyesight isn't good enough - or are doing so without wearing their prescription lenses or glasses. 'Our research suggests that there's overwhelming public support to make our roads safer by introducing compulsory eyesight tests for drivers.' Ms Alexander recently told the Commons Transport Select Committee she is 'open to considering' requiring older motorists to pass eye tests to keep their driving licence. This could be part of the Government's upcoming road safety strategy. A DfT spokesman said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. 'The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their eyesight. 'We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this.' The survey was conducted by research company Opinium between May 20-23 among 2,000 UK adults, of whom 1,312 were drivers.
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
Manhart Turns Porsche 911 Turbo S Into Hardcore Supercar
This is the 911 to have if you're in a hurry. Manhart Has Pulled Off Something Special Everyone wants a piece of Porsche's quickest 911 right now. Earlier this week, Gunther Werks released an exorbitantly priced aero kit for the 991 Turbo S, but that didn't add more power or performance to the 640-horsepower sports car. Fortunately, Manhart exists and has just revealed the TR 900 II, a 992-gen Turbo S that has been enhanced with a comprehensive performance kit. The result is a Porsche 911 with outrageous power and hardcore looks to match. Source: Manhart EV-Like Power And Torque Hybrids and EVs have long surpassed pure ICE cars in raw power and torque, but Manhart has shown what's possible without any electric assistance. Whereas the stock Turbo S produces 640 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, the TR 900 II dials things all the way up to 922 hp and 804 lb-ft. That 922-hp figure is presumably metric horsepower, but it still works out to 909 imperial hp – far surpassing the standard Turbo S. The flat-six engine has been boosted by a Manhart Turbo performance kit, in addition to ECU remapping. A new stainless steel exhaust with valve control has also been fitted, as have race downpipes with 200-cell catalytic converters. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic has been beefed up to cope with the extra power, but the standard carbon-ceramic brakes have been left as is, since they're already powerful and durable enough to cope with the normal Turbo S' incredible performance. Manhart makes no claims about how quick the TR 900 II is, but based on the fact that the stock Turbo S hits 60 in 2.6 seconds, we expect a time in the low two-second range; at this level, even a few tenths shaved off the normal Turbo S time would be a massive achievement. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. It Looks The Part, Too The standard 911 Turbo S is not the most impactful 911 to look at – that's a role reserved for the likes of the track-focused GT3 RS. But the TR 900 II is no ordinary 911, and it shouldn't look like one. To that end, Manhart added Concave One forged wheels measuring 21 inches in front and 22 inches at the back. The body sits 1.2 inches lower, thanks to Manhart lowering springs by H&R, giving this Porsche an even more menacing stance. A Moshammer aero kit includes a front spoiler, side skirts, and a rear diffuser. A larger carbon rear spoiler completes the look. Source: Manhart Black stripes on the body and unique wheel finishes are complemented by a Manhart steering wheel logo and Manhart-branded floor mats inside, but otherwise, the interior hasn't been changed too much. No price was provided for the TR 900 II, but expect a figure far beyond the $230,400 of the standard Turbo S. This level of power doesn't come cheap, even if using all of it may prove to be a mighty challenge in the real world. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
The Biggest Genesis SUV Yet Is Almost Here
Genesis Is Finally Revealing Some Of The GV90's Looks Genesis is serious about taking on luxury European rivals, and to do that, it needs products in the segments where BMW, Mercedes, and Range Rover are operating. While one side of creating a high-end image is showing one's performance credentials, which Genesis aims to do at Le Mans very soon, another is the luxury element, and the upcoming GV90 will take the Korean brand to new heights, rivaling premium SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Our spies have caught a development mule undergoing testing in Austria, and for the first time, the big SUV is showing its front-end lighting signature properly, confirming a bold new look. The Lighting Signature Will Look Like No Other If these spy shots show a somewhat familiar face, you may be recognizing elements of the Genesis Neolun concept, revealed last year. Like that show car, the prototype in these images has a distinctive lighting signature that sees two LED running lights stretch across the front fascia, pausing over the top of the wheel arches, and resuming at the rear of the front fenders. The bottom DRL deviates slightly near the middle, slanting inward to create a valley that gives the GV90 its Genesis-specific look. A pair of intake grilles above and below the license plate will help with the impression of width, and we suspect there may be additional lighting units on each end of the bumper. Big wheels are a given, as is metallic trim around the glasshouse. We haven't got a great view of the back since there's still a lot of fabric camouflage clad to the car, but another dual-strip lighting design is evident. We expect less chrome than the concept, but the diamond-shaped grille mesh should make production. What To Expect Beneath The Sculpted Skin Source: Autoblog While this particular prototype has conventional doors, earlier spy shots have indicated that the rear-opening coach doors that helped give the Neolun concept so much presence will make production, likely as an option. This could also suggest that a long-wheelbase version will be available, much like the ESV take on the Cadillac Escalade. The GV90 is reportedly codenamed JG1 and is based on a new EV platform called eM, which can be used to underpin SUVs as large as the GV90, along with vehicles small enough for the compact segment. As many as 13 new vehicles are expected to be launched on the architecture by 2030, though that may shift as legislation does. Will it be good enough to beat Audi's upcoming Q9 and rivals from BMW and Mercedes? Time will tell, but the signs are good so far. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
