Planet-F1

Coulthard expresses concern over rule changes

Tuesday 22nd April 2008

David Coulthard admits he has plenty of reservations about the new regulations that will be introduced in 2009.

The Red Bull Racing driver believes the changes, which includes the use of slick tyres and new aerodynamic rules that will heavily reduce downforce levels, are unlikely to have the desired effect on Formula One.

All the teams tried out the new regulations at Barcelona last week, and several drivers didn't have a lot of positive feedback.

Coulthard believes rule makers should take another look at the proposed regulations.

"I'm sceptical it will have a big effect, because there will always be quicker cars that qualify at the front and slower cars that qualify at the back - and why would the slower car be able to pass the quicker car just because it's less upset by turbulence? It just won't happen," he wrote in his ITV column.

"I'm curious to see how the rule-makers will deal with the implications of that, because if cars are travelling 10-15 km/h faster at the end of the straight there's significantly more energy to arrest in the event of an accident."

The banning of tyre warmers is another issue he feels needs to be look at.

"I also feel there is a genuine safety concern," he wrote.

"It cannot be good to have big speed differentials between cars. The worst case scenario would be an accident at somewhere like Monaco between one car travelling slowly on the line on cold tyres and another arriving at full speed.

"I know some people will argue that motor racing is dangerous and it should be up to the drivers to handle the challenges thrown at them - but this seems an unnecessary additional risk for no real benefit.

Coulthard believes outlawing mid-race refuelling could have a positive effect on racing.

"It's ironic that refuelling was introduced to spice up the spectacle, yet it has probably had the opposite effect," he wrote.

"There's no question in my mind that banning refuelling would create more lap time variation and improve the racing."