F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Calls For FIA Intervention To Ensure "Close Racing"

The lack of competition and drop in social engagement is a big concern.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has urged the FIA to intervene by making the right decisions to enable closer racing in Formula 1. Red Bull's dominance since 2021 has created a heavy impact on competition and the sport's social engagement numbers. 

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have taken both titles home this season. The world champion's points add up to 100 more than Mercedes.

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The Milton Keynes outfit has left no room for anybody to win this entire season except one Grand Prix and one Sprint race. While that is courtesy of the team's efforts and 'meritocracy,' the sheer dominance and one-sided race results have attracted judgment and criticism from several personalities in the paddock.

The ocean of opinions has also created a divide on whether Verstappen's dominance is causing fans to lose interest in Formula 1 as race outcomes are easily predictable like never before. There is also a concern about the loss of interest among fans which could drop the show's viewership. 

Hamilton, who won his last race in 2021, is sailing in the same boat as he thinks the lack of competition is hurting the sport. Speaking to the media, he urged the FIA to make the right decisions. He said:

“I think, within our sport, we have to continue to work on making sure we’re having close racing because I think you’ve seen the social engagement drop a huge amount this year being that…

"It’s obviously heavily impacted on competition. People want to see that.

"So, we have to make sure that we’re making the right decisions, or the governing body is making the right decisions, to keep us close and great racing right to the end.

"We need more grandstands. I don’t know whether we need to lower the cost but maybe, I don’t know.”

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But what measures the FIA would adopt, is something to ponder upon because recently, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem made it clear that, “It’s a bit harsh and not right to go and punish success,” after citing Mercedes's era of dominance from 2014 to 2020.