Abu Dhabi: Why Lewis Hamilton Got His Demands From FIA – Ross Brawn

FORMULA 1 agreed to a new set of demands following calls from Lewis Hamilton and the grid.

Formula 1 chief Ross Brawn has claimed the sport would have begun to deteriorate had the regulations not been shaken up for 2022. The regulation changes, focused on improving closer racing, came about after drivers led by Lewis Hamilton penned a letter to the FIA encouraging the alterations.

The 2021 season may well go down in history as the greatest F1 season of all time, but the fact that two drivers – world champion Max Verstappen and Hamilton – were the only men in consistent contention for wins highlights the issues with the sport.

As a result, the 2022 regulations are designed to redesign aerodynamics, encouraging closer racing and improved parity across the grid.

It is reported that Hamilton and his fellow F1 drivers led the calls that resulted in the overhaul of regulations, moving on from last year’s cars dubbed the ‘enemy of overtaking’ by Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Alex Wurz.

Racers wrote to F1’s owners Liberty Media as well as the FIA to explain their thoughts regarding ‘dirty air’, which came from the back of the vehicle in front and made overtaking difficult.

New rules based around aerodynamics mean there should be cleaner air coming off cars, and closer racing should become more common.

Brawn believes the changes were needed and came about just at the right time.

“Due to the nature of the regulations, inevitably when we start the season, we may see some scatter in the performance of the teams,” said F1’s managing director motorsports Brawn.

“I think that’s unavoidable, but I also think it was unavoidable to go that route. I think where we were, it was just going to get worse and worse.