DC backs refuelling ban
McLaren driver David Coulthard agrees with you, the Autosport readers, over a ban on refuelling during Formula 1 races. More than 80 percent of those who contributed to our recent F1 survey said that fuel pitstops added nothing to the spectacle
The Scot even believes that it could be just the catalyst the sport needs to promote more changes of position on the track, rather than in the pitlane.
"That result does surprise me," he said, "but I agree. In the days before refuelling there was more chance of a change to the race as people were kinder to the tyres or not depending on how they drove.
"Looking at history it's fair to say to rely on a pitstop as being the pivotal excitement of the race is soon going to be forgotten by the public if they see a move on the track because someone's burned their tyres out or been too hard on the brakes.
"Get rid of refuelling and then the driver has the choice to do a tyre stop or go all the way through. Stops break up the flow of the whole thing."
Coulthard also sympathised with the readers' view that penalties should not be introduced to stop one driver dominating. "I think success should not be penalised," he said. "F1 is the fastest form of motorsport with the best technology within the rules designed by the FIA to keep the speeds at whatever level they decide is safe.
"If, in any given year, someone wins all the races, then so be it. In any individual sport there will always be one guy that's better than the rest at any given time."
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