Vettel wants F1 rules on ‘two sheets of paper’

Sebastian Vettel

(GMM) Sebastian Vettel wants Formula 1 to dramatically simplify the rules.

The complexity of the current rules is a hot topic at present, in part because Ferrari's Vettel lost his win in Canada after an incident with Lewis Hamilton.

"If the rules were on two sheets of paper, there would be a lot more room for maneuver," the German told Servus TV.

Vettel's complaints about the rules have even invigorated rumors the newly 32-year-old quadruple world champion could quit the sport.

He added: "Somehow, Formula 1 needs to think and sort itself out.

"What does it want to achieve? Does it want this complexity? Does it want to keep the technology at a standard that is so far away, so intangible, so advanced?

"Or is it committed to entertainment, to sport?" Vettel said.

He said that if F1 continues on the current path, it is conceivable that eventually there will not even be the need for drivers.

"If you look at mobility and where it's going, the driver will eventually be replaced in the next few decades," said Vettel.

"But I don't think that has a lot of entertainment value."

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner feels there are currently too many rules in Formula 1 after Max Verstappen’s race-winning move at the Austrian Grand Prix was investigated.

Having charged through the order after the anti-stall kicked in on his Red Bull car at the start, Verstappen clashed with long-time race leader Charles Leclerc as he grabbed the lead with a bold lunge at Turn 3 in the closing stages.

The pair banged wheels at the apex of the corner which forced Leclerc off-track and while the incident was initially investigated, the stewards ultimately decided to take no further action.

Prior to the call, Verstappen had said F1 drivers might as well stay at home if the move was penalized.

“It is clear in the rules from what I have seen, at that point, he [Verstappen] is ahead, it’s his corner," Horner said.

“If you take that to an extreme, we saw cars going off and coming back on, every single move would be penalized. What would be the point of trying to overtake?