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F1 can’t “push away” overtaking issues amid dull race concerns

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The topic has been in the spotlight since the Baku weekend, with relatively few overtakes in the sprint and Sunday’s race.

Several drivers blamed the shortened DRS zone in Azerbaijan. However, there is also a bigger picture where the cars are becoming increasingly difficult to keep up as teams develop their aerodynamic packages in line with regulations introduced in early 2022.

Additionally, the mechanics of the current breed produce less slipstream than their predecessors.

Plus: How Baku’s sprint format change exposed F1’s biggest mistakes

Steiner insisted the series had to address the issue and find out why the pass rate for the new rule was lower than expected.

“I think we need to start looking at why overtaking is harder,” he said. “Maybe it has something to do with how the floor has changed from last year to this year.

“Maybe it has to do it just because everyone has more downforce now, which makes following always worse. It could be a combination.

“We need to be mindful that we’re not going to change the regulations again next August because that would be annoying because you invest a lot of money and develop the car and then ‘oh, now we need to change or we change now or we don’t change ‘.

“Or not now, in the near future. Obviously it needs to be brought on the table and not tried to push it away as if nothing ever happened.”

Asked about the growing difficulty of following cars, Steiner said recent complaints from on and off teams underscored that the difficulties were not reflected in individual car designs.

Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 Team Principal

Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 Team Principal

Photography: Andy Horn / motorsport pictures

“I think we were among the first to speak out,” he said. “Because our driver complained a lot that it was worse than the ’22 car, we were told it was mostly our car.

“But I think everyone is following suit now and saying it’s harder.

Opinion: Amid backlash over ‘boring races’, has F1 become a victim of its own success?

“In the beginning, we were standing there alone, and they actually said that it was difficult for only one or two teams, and maybe they were going in the wrong direction.

“I think in general, with the regulatory changes last year, things haven’t gotten better. Then the other thing is shortening the DRS zone. I’m trying to figure out why we did that.

“Honestly, I haven’t found the answer yet. I don’t know why it was decided that way because I don’t think it’s dangerous, it’s just my opinion.

“If someone explains why it’s dangerous, I’m ready to listen, but I’ve never had an answer like that.”

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Asked by Autosport whether it will inevitably get harder as teams develop their kit, Steiner agreed that downforce is a key factor.

“I think we know from history that you’re always developing, and when you’re trying to find more downforce, it’s always going to hurt whoever is running behind,” he said.

“They (the aerodynamicists) are trying to make the car go faster, it increases downforce, they don’t worry if you can’t keep up, because if you’re slow because you have a good wake, you can’t keep up Get on anyone, you didn’t overtake anyway.”

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Ocon: 'I have much respect for Aston Martin'

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Esteban Ocon had a great Sunday afternoon. Across the streets of Monaco, the Frenchman appeared to be at one with his Alps, which eventually even earned him a podium finish. Ocon told a news conference that he looked back on the weekend with a very good feeling.

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Perez “cannot afford another zero” in F1 2023 season

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The Red Bull driver was last in Sunday’s race and was out in Q1 qualifying.

He went on to make five pit stops in a dismal race that saw him twice passed by team-mate and race winner Max Verstappen, who now leads the championship by 39 points.

Although it marked Perez’s first game of the season without scoring, the Mexican said his error was “costly” and “unacceptable”.

He said: “We paid for my mistake and it was very costly. I just have to apologize to my whole team because it was unacceptable for this kind of mistake to be made.

“I have to move on and learn from it, I can’t afford another zero in the tournament.”

Despite the poor finish, Perez had a “very good” start to the race, finishing 15th on lap 30, but dropped back into the standings after a couple of incidents and a period of rain.

He also collided with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen in the corner on lap 34, breaking his front wing.

Perez said he “didn’t know what happened” but was “considerably hurt” by the incident.

He added: “It went well. Unfortunately I hit traffic early on and that put us back where we were. Then it rained and we were one of the last to pit.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43

Photography: Simon Galloway/ motorsport pictures

“Then I cut the wall and it all became a mess. Me and Magnussen broke my front wing and he just came out of the chicane (deeply) and it went bad.

“When you’re in those positions, you’re always taking a lot of risks.”

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it had been a “bad weekend” for Perez, blaming the poor result on a crash in qualifying that “put you at a disadvantage”.

He also said Perez was inside Ocon’s maintenance window before getting stuck behind slow-moving traffic.

Horner said: “We took a very aggressive strategy. Stopped on the first lap and you could see how fast he was in the free space and how much the others were saving.

“He actually came back inside the pit window on Esteban Ocon, and then (Logan) Sargeant and the slow car started to struggle and, of course, you couldn’t overtake.

“Then he got involved in a melee with (George) Russell and damaged the front wing. It was just one of those weekends where he got nothing done.

“He saved a lot of money in the pool, so he might need a new pair of underwear after that.

“For him, it’s just one of those weekends where[he should]turn the page and I think for him, the sooner he gets to Barcelona the better.”

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Verstappen: 'We always have to be perfect'

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Max Verstappen gave a masterclass in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. The Dutchman once again showed his raw talent, whether in the rain or on dry tarmac. If the Dutchman fails to win, there are still two contenders for the title. Teammate Sergio Perez and his friend Fernando Alonso. Will the Spaniard get another chance at victory soon? Verstappen responded at a press conference.

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