Lando Norris has returned to the Japanese Grand Prix, harshly criticizing the new regulation cycle.
The Japanese Grand Prix left significant scars on many drivers, and one of them is certainly Lando Norris. The reigning world champion, who finished fifth, harshly commented on the new regulation cycle, emphasizing the drivers’ impotence and the Federation’s disregard for their opinions. During the standard post-race interviews, the British McLaren driver then explained the situation in detail.
Here’s what he said: “Honestly, at various points in the race I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis. I found myself in a situation where the battery was running low, and although I didn’t want to completely drain it, I had no way to intervene manually. As a result, I’d complete the overtake but then run out of power, allowing him to immediately regain the position. We’re not talking about real competition, but a constant yo-yo effect. Lewis may have a different opinion, but for me, that’s exactly what it is.”
Norris then added: “When performance depends almost entirely on the delivery of the electric motor, the driver should retain a minimum amount of decision-making power, something we totally lack today. We’re constantly at the mercy of software parameters that decide for us the power available at any given moment, leaving us without the tools to defend or attack according to our instincts.”
And regarding the 130R, he stated: “The problem clearly emerges when tackling the 130R. At that point, I’m forced to partially open the throttle to avoid contact with the rider in front, but as soon as I try to open the throttle again, the system interprets the command and activates the battery at the wrong time. I’d like it to stay off to conserve energy, but I can’t prevent it from automatically activating as soon as I press the pedal. It’s frustrating not to be able to manage these flows; we’re too vulnerable to those behind us, and that’s not the right path for our sport. We simply don’t have the necessary control, and that makes us easy prey for anyone behind us.”
Photo: McLaren F1 Team
