Column: Jos Verstappen - Longing for a roaring and screaming engine

Published on 19 June 2015 by Stefan Meens

Jos Verstappen is still the Netherlands most successful Formula 1 driver. This season he shares his opinions regarding the sport via a column in Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf. Below the latest edition.

“The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), which is the drivers' union, asked motor sport fans about their opinions on Formula 1. I think we all agree that something needs to change to make the sport more exciting and spectacular.

The one thing I really miss is the noise of the older Formula 1 cars, and I'm not the only one I believe. That's why people love F1 demonstration runs, like the one Max and I will do on 28 June during Italia a Zandvoort. That old-fashioned roaring and screaming of the engine still gives me goosebumps. Nowadays cars are faster in terms of acceleration but the experience and immersion is less because of the sound the new engines produce.

Another aspect I would like to see changed is the margins between the teams. It's just not right that one team constantly keeps winning. I mean, I think it's fantastic what Mercedes have done with the engine – they deserve all the credits – but the fans want to see exciting races and a variety of drivers finish on the podium and battle for the victory. It shouldn’t just be between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg but I want to see Vettel, Räikkönen, Ricciardo, Bottas and of course Max. I want to see proper fights for position. I fear that after a while, people will get a bit tired of seeing Hamilton win all the time.

That's why I would prefer Formula 1 to have more variables. At the moment, everyone more or less chooses the same race strategy. Everyone starts on a full tank, the top ten starts on the same tyres and in between laps fifteen and twenty everyone pits because of worn tyres. I would find it much more interesting if teams could chose a different race build up. Start the Grand Prix with thirty instead of fifty kg of fuel, different tyres and schedule a pit stop sooner or later.

Additionally, I would like to see multiple tyres manufactures in the sport, under the condition that they give the same compound to all their customers. Back in the day, Ferrari got different Bridgestones than Minardi. That's just wrong. I belief the small teams should have the same chances as the top teams.

Something that bothers many drivers, including myself, is the fact that they have to preserve tyres and fuel. In Canada, they even had to lift on the straights to save fuel. That is not what racing is about, let alone F1. I’m of the opinion that it should be an hour-and-a-half of on the limit racing.

Don't get me wrong, Formula 1 is still a great show, but there's room for improvement. So I’m happy with the GPDA's incentive to listen to the fans. I really hope the results of the survey will be used.

Jos Verstappen

Source: De Telegraaf/Telesport

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