Hamilton calls for F1 to consult drivers over track designs

  • Published on 21 Jul 2019 10:45
  • comments 9
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton believes drivers should be consulted when it comes to track designs and layouts for Formula 1.

Hamilton stated that the FIA should consider hearing what the drivers have to say on the matter as part of the major regulations overhaul that will come into force in 2021.

Although the changes in question relate to improving the technical and sporting side of operations, Hamilton believes that discussing the tracks with drivers will bring an opportunity for better racing.

"Probably in the history of the sport, the drivers have never been a part of the decision making in terms of advising on tracks," said Hamilton.

"We know better than anybody which track we can overtake and which track we can’t. I don’t know who does the selection.

"I know it’s not that they always have a ton of tracks in every country that is possible to race a Grand Prix, but there are ones that they’re selecting for the future that we’re going to have not such great racing, the ones that are on the calendar that aren’t great."

"People always ask me which are my favourite tracks and this [Silverstone] is one of them because you can follow.

"It’s just spectacular with the high speed. Austin, Texas is built like that, as a new circuit. But then we’ve got places where you just can’t follow and it’s like a train.

"Having a race in those countries just for the sake of having a race, or do you want a great race like this?

"If so, then we need to look at the different options in different countries. I think the really cool track they used to have in Hockenheim, and it still is awesome, but the big, long one they used to have is quite unique.

"There was always good racing there but they changed it. Hopefully the GPDA [Grand Prix Drivers’ Association] can be part of in this next step in 2021 rules. We can be a part of advising on that. We’re here to help make the sport better."

Hamilton sees no reason why the tracks couldn't be altered to accommodate better racing. 

"If they’re open to it, we’re happy having the grand Prix in these different countries but if they’re open to the idea of changing or adapting some of the circuits or using a different circuit in the countries, then we should look into that."

f1ski

Posts: 726

i don't think drivers are needed to figure this out but if it is an existing track why not take some f1 cars and do a test . I know for certain f1 doesn't need another street circuit.

  • 1
  • Jul 21 2019 - 22:20

Replies (9)

Login to reply
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    Pure bullshit, The whole point of racing is showing which drivers are the best able to cope with any given track. That's why the cars have steering, brakes and throttles. Changing or designing tracks around the current crop of cars doesn't make for better racing, but I guess it would make the divas happy.

    • + 0
    • Jul 21 2019 - 16:05
    • Yet some of the tracks could certainly be improved A LOT. Just look at the French GP and what a trainwreck that was. And I expect Abu Dhabi to be but another snooze fest, as it always is. I do however think the best solution is to even out the field, the tracks can be perfect, but it won't matter with the current field gaps.

      • + 0
      • Jul 21 2019 - 16:18
    • I think it's worth hearing what they have to say. They all seem to want to same thing

      • + 0
      • Jul 21 2019 - 16:25
    • You probably feel the need to rubbish the proposal because Hamilton said it. I get it. But this would actually be a good thing. Drivers have a pretty unique perspective to give regarding track design and what's fun, what provides good overtaking opportunities, etc. I don't think drivers should design tracks, but being consulted would definitely be valuable. In the end engineers and designers have the ultimate word, but I actually think most people would agree with this proposal. Just pretend Kimi said it and then you'll probably want to get behind it

      • + 0
      • Jul 21 2019 - 23:16
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    i don't think drivers are needed to figure this out but if it is an existing track why not take some f1 cars and do a test . I know for certain f1 doesn't need another street circuit.

    • + 1
    • Jul 21 2019 - 22:20
    • Street races are great as long as the track is laid out properly. There's nothing like watching an F1 car ripping through the streets of a city. Not the same on tv to be sure. It's all about track layout and letting the fans get up close and personal.

      • + 0
      • Jul 22 2019 - 14:58
  • I disagree with Hamilton. But, the tracks need more character and challenge.

    • + 0
    • Jul 22 2019 - 01:34
  • JuJuHound

    Posts: 352

    Lewis forgot about one thing. "You guys, are JUST the drivers. Jump in and drive, don't complain, we know how to do it!!" - CC :D

    • + 0
    • Jul 22 2019 - 08:34
  • It couldn't hurt to listen to what they say, where's the harm in that? They may even have some good suggestions.

    • + 0
    • Jul 22 2019 - 15:00

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,154
  • Podiums 127
  • Grand Prix 184
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar

Total queries: 4
Total time: 0.44488596916199
timesincestartcallerannotatebtdesc
0.000556
instantiate query log (0Q - total module time: 0.00070310s)
""
0.001268
boot (0Q - total module time: 0.00013018s)
""
0.001402
translation-init (1Q - total module time: 0.00786304s)
""
0.000861880.008383/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Redirect.php:105(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Entities/Redirect.php:112(findByOrigin)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Redirects.php:108(getRedirectOrFalse)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:115(checkForDBRedirects)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT redirects.id, redirects.origin, redirects.referer FROM redirects WHERE redirects.origin = :origin ORDER BY id
{"origin":"\/en\/news\/f1\/249403\/hamilton-calls-for-f1-to-consult-drivers-over-track-designs"}
0.009271
controller::news/f1/249403/hamilton-calls-for-f1-to-consult-drivers-over-track-designs (2Q - total module time: 0.25657415s)
""
0.001418110.011856/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Article.php:389(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:127(findNextArticle)
{"function":"F1T\\Controllers\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\Controllers\\News","object":{"current_page":"news"},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:158(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:47(action_Index)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:269(dispatch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:195(_load)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT Articles.ArticleId AS ArticleId, Articles.RewriteUrl AS RewriteUrl, Articles.ArticleType as ArticleType, Articles.Category as Category, Articles.cntnlang AS cntnlang, RacingSeries.RewriteUrl AS RacingSeriesRewriteUrl FROM Articles INNER JOIN RacingSeries ON Articles.RacingSerieId = RacingSeries.RacingSerieId WHERE Articles.cntnlang = :siteLang AND Articles.SiteId = :siteId AND Articles.Activated = 1 AND Articles.PublishDate < :publishDate AND Articles.ArticleType IN (:param0, :param1, :param2) AND Articles.ArticleId > :articleId ORDER BY Articles.ArticleId ASC LIMIT 1
{"siteLang":"en","siteId":"1","publishDate":"2026-02-05 05:55:00","articleId":249403,":param0":"Nieuws",":param1":"LiveRaceReport",":param2":"Liveblog"}
0.197830920.013324/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Article.php:318(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:128(findPrevArticle)
{"function":"F1T\\Controllers\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\Controllers\\News","object":{"current_page":"news"},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:158(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:47(action_Index)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:269(dispatch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:195(_load)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT Articles.ArticleId AS ArticleId, Articles.RewriteUrl AS RewriteUrl, Articles.ArticleType as ArticleType, Articles.Category as Category, Articles.cntnlang AS cntnlang, RacingSeries.RewriteUrl AS RacingSeriesRewriteUrl FROM Articles INNER JOIN RacingSeries ON Articles.RacingSerieId = RacingSeries.RacingSerieId WHERE Articles.cntnlang = :siteLang AND Articles.SiteId = :siteId AND Articles.Activated = 1 AND Articles.PublishDate < :publishDate AND Articles.ArticleType IN (:param0, :param1, :param2) AND Articles.ArticleId < :articleId ORDER BY Articles.ArticleId DESC LIMIT 1
{"siteLang":"en","siteId":"1","publishDate":"2026-02-05 05:55:00","articleId":249403,":param0":"Nieuws",":param1":"LiveRaceReport",":param2":"Liveblog"}
0.265851 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Result (0Q - total module time: 0.00046897s)
""
0.266323 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Photos (0Q - total module time: 0.00012589s)
""
0.266452 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Trending (0Q - total module time: 0.00012302s)
""
0.266578 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Reply (1Q - total module time: 0.15297294s)
""
0.137067080.267165/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/CommentVotes.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Connection.php:1323(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Query/Exec/SingleSelectExecutor.php:31(executeQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Query.php:325(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:1212(_doExecute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:1166(executeIgnoreQueryCache)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:901(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/CommentVotes.php:192(getResult)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/CommentVotesManager.php:46(getCommentVotesByVoteIp)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Modules/News/Reply.php:101(getCommentVotesByIP)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:115(internalRender)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:89(captureOutput)
{"function":"F1T\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\ModuleBase","object":{"_amp":false},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:92(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/ViewRenderer/TwigExtensions/ModuleRenderer.php:35(fetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:549(renderModule)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:182(block_mainContent)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:62(displayBlock)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:182(block_content)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:715(displayBlock)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:45(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:46(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:390(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/TemplateWrapper.php:45(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php:318(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/ViewRenderer/TwigRenderer.php:115(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ViewTrait.php:98(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ViewTrait.php:79(renderViewFile)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:261(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT c0_.CommentId AS CommentId_0, c1_.Vote AS Vote_1 FROM Comments c0_ INNER JOIN CommentVotes c1_ ON (c1_.CommentId = c0_.CommentId) WHERE c0_.ArticleId = ? AND c1_.VoteIp = ?
[249403,"216.73.216.82"]
0.419555 cacheAble: no
module:Sidebar (0Q - total module time: 0.00488210s)
""
0.424441
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00001192s)
""
0.424455
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpschedule (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.424458 cacheAble: yes
module:GpSchedule (0Q - total module time: 0.00023794s)
""
0.424700
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::results (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.424705 cacheAble: yes
module:Results (0Q - total module time: 0.00015283s)
""
0.424860
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::testcalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.424865 cacheAble: yes
module:TestCalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00331283s)
""
0.428181
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000811s)
""
0.428190
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000286s)
""
0.428194
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::relatednews (0Q - total module time: 0.00000381s)
""
0.428198 cacheAble: yes
module:RelatedNews (0Q - total module time: 0.00021815s)
""
0.428418
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::whoischatting (0Q - total module time: 0.00000596s)
""
0.428424
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.428428
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::poll (0Q - total module time: 0.00000095s)
""
0.428430 cacheAble: no
module:Poll (0Q - total module time: 0.00567317s)
""
0.434105
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000715s)
""
0.434113
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000286s)
""
0.434116
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpcalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.434119 cacheAble: yes
module:GpCalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00603199s)
""
0.440155
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::driver_Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00000906s)
""
0.440166 cacheAble: yes
module:Driver\Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00014806s)
""
0.440317
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::team_Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00000596s)
""
0.440324 cacheAble: yes
module:Team\Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00010800s)
""
0.440434
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::linkedKeywords (0Q - total module time: 0.00001192s)
""
0.440448
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpsidebarnavigation (0Q - total module time: 0.00000191s)
""
0.440451 cacheAble: no
module:GpSidebarNavigation (0Q - total module time: 0.00042796s)
""
0.440881 cacheAble: yes
module:Layout\Footer (0Q - total module time: 0.00046206s)
""
0.441347 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Breaking (0Q - total module time: 0.00353408s)
""
0.444884
done
""