Pierre Gasly does not feel that the new F1 rules have cut the gap to the top teams
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Pierre Gasly
The new regulation changes of 2022 were intended to create better, closer racing. This was done through different allotments of wind tunnel time, a decrease in dirty air that would allow cars to follow each other better, and a general bunching up of the pack was intended. In recent years, Mercedes had won the championships by quite some margin.
While Mercedes certainly are not at the ‘top’ anymore, it does not necessarily mean that things have gotten easier for the lesser teams. Pierre Gasly has felt that the advantage of the top three teams – Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes – over the rest of the field is alarming. As such, the regulations would have to an extent failed in achieving their original goals.
All of the seven races have either been won by Red Bull or Ferrari, and Mercedes have usually picked up the scraps left between them. Teams have been able to be competitive with the three on particular weekends – but not consistently. Gasly is disappointed, as that has often left the midfield teams fighting for the low-point scoring finishes.
Pierre Gasly: The top three is a different world
While there is indeed more competition between the midfield teams now, the top three teams are in a league of their own. As such, it is a weird situation where there are two distinct groups. The groups are at least competitive within themselves, but they are certainly in different leagues.
Pierre Gasly is disappointed by this. He feels that the absolute top teams are even more insurmountable than they were last year. The French driver said: “I think if you look from fourth-fastest to probably the last actually, I think we all bunched up quite a lot, but the top three is a different world.”
Gasly had been very competitive in Qualifying last year – less so in the races, but his point stands. At many times last year, AlphaTauri were able to throw themselves into the mix, at least in the higher midfield positions. This has yet to happen this season.
“Even last year, I got excited many times because I could outqualify a Ferrari, sometimes the Red Bulls, sometimes Mercedes. I felt like this top three, they were faster, but they were not such a different league that you could tease them sometimes.”
“This year, there is no way. It’s clearly a big step. Only [Valtteri] Bottas can challenge at times. We’re literally fighting for seventh, which is a bit sad because clearly, the target was to close [up].”
“Hopefully with the regulations, it’s going to close up a bit.”
Gasly, of course, is referring to the financial regulations of Formula 1. The budget cap seeks to limit the absolute spending capacity of the top teams in developing their car – and in the process bring the field closer together. The gap at the top is certainly expected to fade. McLaren is the only team outside of the top 3 to step on the podium this season. Gasly himself has struggled to recreate his heights of last season, and only has 6 points to his name.
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)