Lewis Hamilton suggests changes to help teams catch up after big F1 rule shifts.
- The ground effect era led Red Bull to dominate, leaving others like McLaren and Ferrari playing catch-up.
- Hamilton believes regulatory dominance periods could be shortened for a more level playing field.
- With 2026 changes looming, Hamilton proposes a faster grid convergence method.
- George Russell suggests windtunnel time allocation be based on championship points, not positions.
Lewis Hamilton, the seasoned Mercedes driver, is known for his strategic insights both on and off the track. Recently, he’s been vocal about the need for Formula 1 to find “another solution” to help teams catch up quicker after significant regulatory changes. Hamilton pointed out the evident field spread seen during Red Bull’s dominance in the ground effect era that kicked off in 2022. Teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and even Hamilton’s own Mercedes squad have been scrambling to close the performance gap.
Looking ahead to the 2026 regulatory overhaul, which will bring changes to chassis and power units, Hamilton anticipates another potential shake-up. He expressed a desire for a mechanism that could expedite the process of grid convergence. “I think if we look at the past, we would say that you would have such a long period of dominance that you’d want to change to spark some change,” Hamilton told reporters, including PlanetF1.com.
Currently, F1 employs a sliding scale system on windtunnel allotment, where teams further down the Constructors’ Championship receive more time. However, Hamilton, and now his teammate George Russell, are questioning the system’s effectiveness. Russell proposed that the scale should be based on the total points earned rather than finishing positions to better assist teams in mounting a comeback.
Hamilton’s reflections come at a time where the championship is particularly competitive, with the top five teams closely matched in terms of performance. His observations suggest that while the current system has its merits, there is room for improvement, particularly in how time is allocated to developing chassis aerodynamics.
In a compelling comment, Russell noted the discrepancy between the standings and the points. He highlighted that Red Bull, despite doubling the points of the second-place team, receives the same windtunnel reduction advantage as much closer competitors like Mercedes and Ferrari had, based on positional finishes rather than points, last year.
Hamilton’s suggestions aim to make F1 more competitive by reducing prolonged dominance periods.
