George Russell asserts that Formula 1 drivers will speak to officials in a bid to see changes that will improve overtaking in the sport.

In recent weeks, the ability to race wheel-to-wheel has been under scrutiny amid a series of processional races.

2022 saw new technical regulations introduced which aimed to decrease the dirty air produced and allow cars to follow their rivals through corners more closely.

The change was praised by a number of drivers last year, who highlighted the improved capacity to stay close behind another car.

However, drivers have been critical of the decision to reduce the length of DRS zones at events this year, while Russell suggested that there are other measures that can be introduced to improve racing in the short term. 

“I think at the end of day, we all want the best races, the most exciting races,” Russell said. 

“And there’s probably a few easier ways to achieve this in the short term, like Esteban [Ocon] said about the tyre degradation. 

“It’s been easy one-stops in the last couple of races. And when everybody’s pushing flat out, there are less exciting races. 

“Obviously the DRS has gone in the wrong direction. So there’s a couple of small things, but you know, for sure, we’re going to speak with the FIA and F1 about this.

“We want to be able to race, we want to be able to fight, as we all did in go-karts, where there was no aerodynamics. So that’s the ultimate dream. 

“I think the sport took a really good turn for the better when these new cars were introduced, but we need to take it to the next step now.”

However, while Russell is advocating for change, he has warned that there can’t be “knee-jerk” solutions introduced in an attempt to fix the issues.

“I think for a couple of races now it’s been challenging to overtake,” he said. “For sure, Baku wasn’t the most exciting race in the world. 

“But there are a number of factors for that, but yeah, there should never be a knee-jerk reaction but we were all talking about this issue prior to the race in Baku, and then the race obviously went on to be as dull as we all expected.

“And it’s challenging for everybody. Obviously, we’re pushing Pirelli to deliver a good tyre, a consistent tyre and when it is difficult, you know, the drivers, myself included, we don’t like it. 

“But in an ideal world, you have a very strong tyre, which at a certain point falls off the cliff and means you have to do a few more pit stops and gives it some different opportunities in the races.”

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