Lewis Williams · @Steven_Lewis_WA
20th May 2011 from Twitlonger
@5LiveF1 Hi Guys. Really sorry for the long comment but please, please, Please could you discuss it, Thanks. I think the new rules for 2011 have somewhat devalued overtaking in F1.
In the past watching the build-up to a fight for position was exciting, watching the 2 (or more) cars in close contact fighting for position was exciting (Alonso/Schumacher @ Imola 05/06) & any overtaking which did happen was truly exciting to watch.
With the DRS, KERS & Pirelli wear rates in 2011 most of the time I've started getting excited over one car catching another only for the car behind to get by the other car with reletive ease once he gets there with no good fight over the position with the car ahead been completely defenceless to hold the other car behind. Also when you get 2 cars on tyres at different stages of wear the pass is inevitable which takes away from the excitement much like with Hamilton & Vettel at Shanghai.
I read some comments from Mark Webber about his drive through the field at Shanghai & how he didn't find it as satisfying as he has in the past because cars he was passing had nothing to fight him with & it summed up my feelings. Were getting a lot more passing this year but watching it happen isn't as exciting & doesn't have me on the edge of my seat like I have while watching great battles for position & passes over the past 23 years. Its almost like nascar now where there is so much passing happening so often that seeing a pass happen no longer means anything.
May not be the most popular view around but I found what we had before far more exciting overall when compared to what we have now.