Former driver David Coulthard believes that fans will probably have to wait beyond the Miami Grand Prix to truly measure the influence of the recent regulation adjustments.
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Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, DC said: “It’s going to be interesting to see, but I think in Miami, we won’t necessarily see the results of these changes due to the nature of the circuit there.”
“Lots of slow and medium-speed corners. There isn’t really a strong, distinctive section, an iconic sequence of corners where you think: ‘Wow, I really saw the driver or the car do something special.’ So I think we need to wait a few races.”
Real overtakes
Despite this, Coulthard remains optimistic about the impact of the changes, believing they will eventually make a difference: “But I think it will make a difference. There’s no doubt about that.”
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He also discussed the potential impact on overtakes, suggesting that while there might be fewer on track, they would be more significant: “And it might reduce some on-track overtakes that have generated excitement, but is a power reduction when someone else has the boost because they were in the right place at the right time on track and triggered that mechanism, is that really an overtake? It’s a power surge, isn’t it? A power increase.”
Rather optimistic
Coulthard concluded by comparing these new adjustments to previous systems like DRS, while expressing hope for more meaningful races: “So I think we might see fewer on-track overtakes, but they will be more significant. It will be more about the driver positioning the car, trying to take advantage of the slipstream. Yes, there will still be an element of boost, but that was essentially what DRS did in previous years too. So I’m optimistic.”
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The Miami Grand Prix is scheduled from May 1st to 3rd at Hard Rock Stadium.