Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

How injury struggles are plaguing MotoGP champion Marquez in 2026

MotoGP
Spanish GP
How injury struggles are plaguing MotoGP champion Marquez in 2026

“Lesson learned” – the mindset F1 and the FIA need for the next rule change

Feature
Formula 1
Miami GP
“Lesson learned” – the mindset F1 and the FIA need for the next rule change

Rins questions timing of early Yamaha axe after poor start to MotoGP 2026

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Rins questions timing of early Yamaha axe after poor start to MotoGP 2026

Vettel claims F1 is losing its DNA – but does it even exist?

Formula 1
Vettel claims F1 is losing its DNA – but does it even exist?

The dilemma Bagnaia's MotoGP race engineer faces

MotoGP
Spanish GP
The dilemma Bagnaia's MotoGP race engineer faces

How Rally Islas Canarias could crown another new WRC winner

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
How Rally Islas Canarias could crown another new WRC winner

Dodds: Formula E helping F1 understand new regs, recent changes "very strong" for motorsport

Formula E
Dodds: Formula E helping F1 understand new regs, recent changes "very strong" for motorsport

Why Ogura’s Yamaha move is Honda’s cruellest lesson

MotoGP
Why Ogura’s Yamaha move is Honda’s cruellest lesson

Formula 1 needs camera-angle rethink, GPDA chairman Wurz believes

Formula 1 needs a rethink of its broadcast camera angles to really showcase the new-generation cars, Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz believes

With the bigger wings and larger tyres set to result in smashed lap records this year, F1 drivers have talked about the new machinery being much harder to take to the limit.

Ex-F1 racer Wurz, who has been in charge of the GPDA since 2014, says his feedback from drivers is encouraging, but believes better use of camera angles and on-board shots are essential to ensure the speed increase translates to television screens.

"The TV feed is already better because they have an on-board camera that shakes a bit," Wurz told Autosport.

"So the perception is it is faster, the cars are faster - you can see it.

"If the TV feed would go away from the old-school business model of big wide opened lenses to have few very fast shots, to capture the speed of the car for the eye, I think with these things, the sport will go in the right direction.

"And then it is up to the new owners to promote and promote and promote."

Wurz believes the regulation overhaul has taken F1 back to being "authentic", with drivers happy and challenged again.

After the hard-fought season-opener in Australia - which swung Sebastian Vettel's way when Lewis Hamilton got trapped behind Max Verstappen after the pitstops - Wurz believes fans should celebrate the fact they are seeing genuine racing again.

"The drivers like the cars," Wurz said.

"It is authentic and that comes across, which makes it much easier to sell.

"If you hear a multiple world champion short of breath on the radio, because he is pushing and he can push all the time, that doesn't require anyone to explain that it is physically tough and challenging to drive.

"Every lap they were pushing. That is cool. So I think the direction we are going is definitely one that is good."

The size of the field spread is an area Wurz admits needs addressing, though.

The gap from the top group of teams - Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull - to the next-best runner was 0.589 seconds in Melbourne qualifying and nearly 55s in the race.

"If I would have a wish list, I would say that if we manage now to get the field a bit closer together in terms of first to last and the top teams, that will bring a bit more competition," he said.

"And then the excitement will build up itself, so it will be competitive, authentic and exciting.

"We are heading in this direction."

Previous article Why a dormant F1 rivalry is about to explode
Next article McLaren-Honda F1 team braced for very tough Chinese Grand Prix

Top Comments