George Russell says that the increasing weight of Formula 1 cars is now at risk of becoming a safety issue for the drivers.
The weight of the cars has been increasing over the last number of years, with the minimum weight of the 2022 challengers set at 798kg – the heaviest in F1 history.
Despite the rising number, most teams struggled to keep weight at the minimum requirements during 2022 amid the introduction of new technical regulations.
This was due to factors such as heavier standard parts and new safety installations, as well as the introduction of Pirelli’s 18-inch wheels.
Throughout the 2022 campaign, a number of drivers complained about the cars being too heavy.
Speaking to Autosport, Russell says that the matter is now approaching a safety risk and has called for a balance to be struck.
“The big one [issue] is the weight,” said Russell.
“The weight is extraordinary. At the moment, the low-speed performance is not great.
“We keep making these cars safer and safer, but obviously the heavier you make them when you have an impact it’s like crashing with a bus compared to a Smart Car.
“You’re going to have a greater impact if you’re going the same speed with a car that weighs 800-odd-kgs or over 900kgs at the start of a race, compared to one 15 years ago when they were at 650kg.
“And I’m sure there’s analysis going on about striking that right balance because I don’t know where the line is drawn.
“If you just keep making it heavier, heavier, heavier, stronger, stronger, stronger – actually you get to a point where you cross over that [line] that too heavy is actually not safer.”
New regulations will come into play in 2026, with lighter and shorter cars set to complement new Power Unit builds.
