Nigel Mansell has expressed "total sympathy" with Red Bull's Max Verstappen regarding Formula One's new rules, suggesting the FIA will likely implement changes to restore competitive racing. Verstappen has openly criticized the shift towards energy management over raw speed, deeming the situation "fundamentally flawed." McLaren's Lando Norris has also labeled the current racing as "artificial."
Mansell, the 1992 world champion, stated he unequivocally supports the drivers' frustrations. "It's very disappointing to have the stallion of all racing cars, Formula One, appearing in the first races that they're not actually racing at times," he told Reuters. He believes the governing body is listening to feedback.
Formula One's technical experts met last Thursday to discuss potential regulation adjustments following the initial races. New power units, with a near 50-50 split between electric and combustion power, have forced drivers to conserve battery life by easing off the throttle, impacting performance. Further technical and high-level stakeholder meetings are scheduled before the next race in Miami.
Mansell hopes the cars will soon be driven as intended and cautioned against failing to make sufficient adjustments. He also backed Lewis Hamilton to perform strongly with Ferrari, predicting he still has the capability to win another championship if provided with a competitive car. Mansell concluded that F1 needs minor tweaks to return to its former glory.