Two of Formula 1\u2019s top drivers said the racing in the first race of the new season reminded them of Mario Kart.<\/p>\n
The Australian Grand Prix saw an unusual number of changes of position between cars. Many of the passes occured as a result of the series\u2019 new power unit rules.<\/p>\n
Drivers have more electrical boost which they can deploy at different points around the lap. The new Overtake mode gives an opportunity to use an additional boost to any car less than a second behind another.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen<\/a> made a series of overtakes as he climbed from 20th on the grid to finish sixth. However he said the new rules have made the racing less authentic.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you enjoy that, okay,\u201d he told Viaplay. \u201cBut that\u2019s what I do at home and I play Mario Kart.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me personally, I didn\u2019t really enjoy that. The way that you were racing is not really proper, let\u2019s say like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc<\/a> made a similar comment independent of Verstappen\u2019s remarks during the race. The Ferrari driver was locked in a battle for the lead of the race with George Russell for the first 11 laps.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n The pair swapped positions several times, sometimes more than once on a single lap as one used more energy to pass the other, then lacked the power to defend their position, or fell prey to their rival\u2019s Overtake mode.<\/p>\n At one point Leclerc\u2019s race engineer told him, \u201cyou have overtake [available] for the entire lap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is like a mushroom [power boost] in Mario Kart,\u201d replied Leclerc. <\/p>\n Other drivers were unimpressed with how the power units have changed how they attack and defend. Lando Norris<\/a> described it as \u201cartificial racing.\u201d<\/p>\n However race winner Russell defended the changes to the rules and said drivers should not criticise them too hastily.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely different but I think the interesting thing with these regs is every track we go to, they\u2019re not always going to be like this. We\u2019re going to Shanghai next where you\u2019ve got one big, long straight, so the majority of drivers will be using their energy on that one straight. You don\u2019t need to divide it up between four like you do here in Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s very quick to criticise things. You need to give it a shot. We\u2019re 22 drivers. When we\u2019ve had the best cars and the least tyre degradation and when we\u2019ve been happiest, everyone moans the racing\u2019s rubbish. Now drivers aren\u2019t perfectly happy and everyone said it was an amazing race.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you can\u2019t have it all, and I think we should just give it a chance and see after a few more races.\u201d<\/p>\n