Brawn: “The situation is getting worse every year with current cars”

Mexico City will not have been the scene of the sixth coronation of Lewis Hamilton, and the event contested at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was mainly played out in terms of strategy for the Briton's victory, Mercedes having better understood tire management than its rival Ferrari.

If in the peloton, a few battles animated the debates, Ross Brawn highlights the lack of “wheel to wheel” fight at the head of the race.

“It's a shame that there wasn't much of a fight on the track, especially among the leaders, because everything was in place to deliver an exciting fight, especially around the possible duel between Mercedes and Ferrari on a track where overtaking is very possible, underlines the Motor Sports director of Liberty Media.

However, once again we found that when the cars and drivers are very close, it becomes very difficult not only to overtake but also to get close to the car in front.

If you get too close for a few laps, you risk ruining your tires, causing the drivers to take their foot off to cool the rubber before attempting a new attack.

This is not new, but it once again confirms that it is necessary to change the regulations to allow close combat between cars. »

Act for 2021

And even though the fateful date of October 31, which must validate the future package of regulations, is fast approaching, without everything being 100% clear. For Ross Brawn, however, there is no need to wait any longer.

“Change may not be so far away now, at least on paper, given that in a few days the FIA ​​World Motor Sport Council will decide on the regulations for 2021, which we presented with the FIA, indicates the former Ferrari manager.

The new aerodynamic configuration has been developed to reduce impact when following another car. Overtaking and battling is easy when there is a 1-2 second gap, but when there is a smaller difference there is no chance.

Suggestions to delay the introduction are frustrating as the situation gets worse every year with the cars we have now.

How many opportunities have we lost to see close battles? On Sunday there weren't many, despite the track characteristics and the introduction of an additional third DRS zone.

If even these attributes don't make for a closer race, it's time we act. It is not about change for the sake of change, but we have put considerable effort into developing these new rules in the long-term interests of the sport. »

Hopefully the whole field F1 will hear this plea... and that the 2021 regulations will indeed offer the necessary change to the discipline.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Mexican Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Mexico City, as well as the latest information on the 2021 regulations, in AUTO issue 2240hebdo, available now in digital version and from tomorrow on newsstands.