George Russell has admitted his safety concerns heading into the 2023 Formula 1 season, claiming the weight of the cars means they are 'like crashing a bus'. Russell is set for his second campaign with Mercedes, following his maiden year in 2022.
The year proved to be a breakout one for the youngster, having secured his first ever Formula 1 victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November. With the 2023 season right around the corner, Russell is no doubt hoping for more success.
Whilst the Englishman will be chomping at the bit to get going again, the 24-year-old has concerns about his and his fellow drivers safety in the back of his mind.
The minimum weight of F1 ground effect cars was raised to 798kg, a huge increase of 46kg compared to the end of 2021. Whilst the regulation change has led to better performing vehicles out on the track by numbers, Russell believes the issue now lies with the heavy weight of the car.
Per Motorsport.com , he said: "The big one [issue] is the weight. The weight is extraordinary. At the moment, the low-speed performance is not great... We keep making these cars safer and safer, but obviously the heavier you make them when you have an impact it’s like crashing with a bus compared to a Smart Car.
"You’re going to have a greater impact if you’re going the same speed with a car that weights 800-odd-kgs or over 900kgs at the start of a race, compared to one 15 years ago when they were at 650kg." Trends have only seen F1 cars get heavier and heavier.
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As a result, Russell believes that if the design continues in this direction, the safety of cars will begin to divert the other way. He went on: "I’m sure there’s analysis going on about striking that right balance because I don’t know where the line is drawn.
"If you just keep making it heavier, heavier, heavier, stronger, stronger, stronger. Actually you get to a point where you cross over that [line] that too heavy is actually not safer."
