Lewis Hamilton urges more F1 changes

Mercedes' star driver Lewis Hamilton wants more frequent changes to Formula One in a bid to keep the sport spicy.

Lewis Hamilton is shunning his Formula One favouritism while urging more drastic rule changes to keep spicing up the sport.

Hamilton says he and his Mercedes team are seeking an unprecedented feat at the season-opening grand prix in Melbourne.

"No team has won back-to-back through rule regulation changes so that is our goal as a team," Hamilton told reporters on Thursday.

"And we're here to win. We are here to do something that no-one else has done.

"Whether or not we're in the right place at this moment in the season, we'll find out."

A raft of rule changes have been enforced for the fresh F1 season which starts with practice sessions at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit on Friday.

Car and tyre widths have been increased, among other moves, tipped to bring more speed.

Mercedes have won the past three constructors' championships, with Hamilton winning the world title in 2014 and 2015 before his now-retired teammate Nico Rosberg's triumph last year.

And Hamilton wants more frequent rule changes to keep the sport exciting.

"Do more changes," the Englishman said.

"Because there can often be a dominance of a certain team and it's hard to catch up.

"There's a limit to how much development you can do through a year and the top teams generally can develop at a similar kind of pace.

"So if you have got a gap already at the beginning, it's hard to squish that gap ... so doing drastic changes kind of spices it up.

"I have never seen the fans so excited about a season as they are this season ... we don't know where the cars and teams are, so more of these kind of experiences would be welcome."

Hamilton said Ferrari ace Sebastian Vettel deserved favouritism due to their rapid pace at pre-season testing.

"I see Ferrari being the quickest at the moment and I think they will definitely be the favourites," he said.

But Vettel disagreed, saying three-time world champion Hamilton maintained top billing.

"He must be," Vettel told reporters.

"Obviously Mercedes has been in very, very strong form the last few years.

"And even though we changed the rules, the regulations, I think if a team is strong then they will build a strong car no matter what you do.

"It's very clear who is the favourite ... we're obviously trying our best to catch up. How much we have succeeded, we will see."


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Source: AAP



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