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Faster F1 2017 cars increase crash consequences – Ocon
Formula 1 drivers face bigger consequences from mistakes in 2017 thanks to the new generation of cars, reckons Force India driver Esteban Ocon.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Mar 22, 2017, 10:42 PM
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This weekend's Australian Grand Prix marks the first race for F1's new breed of wider and faster cars – with lap records set to be broken as a result of the big increase in downforce allowed this year.
But early feedback from pre-season testing suggests that the extra performance also means the cars are more on the edge – and have a tendency for snap oversteer to pitch drivers off track if they go over the limit.
With a number of drivers, including Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton having spun off after errors in testing, Ocon is convinced 2017's car are tougher to handle at the limit.
Although he thinks the number of mistakes will not increase this year, what he believes will happen is that any errors will now result in incidents rather than simple sideways slides.
"More mistakes, no. But mistakes that can cost a lot, yes," he said, when asked by Motorsport.com if there was more potential for trouble this year.
"To catch the car is much harder, so you can go off. Whereas before, you had a slide and you could catch it. This year it is harder to catch it."
On the limit
Ocon says that the bigger and bulkier cars have contributed to a situation of snap oversteer if the limit is reached.
"You go at such a speed at the corners, to find the limit it is already hard to be there," he said. "And when you start to lose the car, the car is heavier obviously.
"The tyres especially are wider, so when you start to lose the car, the snap you get is much bigger than the previous ones. That has caught out some drivers in winter testing.
"On the other side, it is physical – and in the races you can push more.
"So all in all, I think it is harder to drive from the physical aspect. But I don't think it is then harder to drive on a normal lap."
Much quicker
Daniel Ricciardo thinks that F1 cars are now back at a level where they demand respect – as he revealed that cornering speeds in some faster bends is noticeably different.
"It feels better," he said. "The high speed corners are what you enjoy the most. That is where F1 cars make the difference compared to other categories: it is the corner speeds.
"The straightline speed is important but there are cars that go quicker in a straightline than us – [such as] drag cars and all that. So we are known for our cornering abilities.
"At Barcelona, Turn 3, we were doing close to 40km/h quicker minimum speed than last year, so you are kind of going from 220km/h to 260km/h. That is a big difference and that is more fun for sure.
"I think as a spectator now, when you are paying money to see a race and you see us cornering at these speeds, I think you are getting more for your money. It is a good experience."
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