P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has come to the defence of the new F1 regulations following some intense scrutiny from fellow drivers.
George Russell has defended the new F1 regulations, calling criticisms from some drivers “premature” and highlighting the fast improvement at the start of any era in Formula 1. The Briton noted that the new cars are not significantly slower than at the end of the previous ground effects era. He responded to criticism from drivers like Max Verstappen, who compared the new rules to “Formula E on steroids” due to energy management demands. The understanding of the regulations has improved since the first tests, and criticisms have decreased during the final test in Bahrain. Russell emphasized the progress made under the new regulations and the smoothness of the latest test, pointing out that lap times are not far off from a year ago. He believes that the initial criticisms were premature and that overall, people seem happier with the new regulations this week.
