F1 needs a better balance between business and sport, says Norris Sports News

Lando Norris speaks ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix as drivers feel the new rules will limit their speed.

Formula One has been largely driven by business decisions and needs to remember that it is a sport, according to McLaren world champion Lando Norris.

With drivers angry at new rules that have reduced their speeds, particularly at the Belgian Grand Prix last week, the Briton told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix that Formula One could do better.

“It’s business,” Briton said. “Everyone wants to make money, so for Audi and other teams to come in we had to change these things. It’s a shame. It shouldn’t have been like that.

Audi entered the game this season after taking on Swiss-based Sauber, with the German carmaker encouraged by new regulations that have increased the power output of electric motors to be closer to the combustion engine. Laws were changed to reduce energy costs in 2027.

“Formula One will always be good,” said Norris, whose car has a Mercedes engine. “It could be better.

“We as drivers just know better than anyone else. The shame is that Formula One is driven more by business these days than how to make the sport the best it can be. It’s ‘how can you make more money as a business?’

“And that’s not the way it should be. That’s not the way sports should be run. The fact that we have hybrids, 50-50 and all that, is because a lot of teams want to join because you get more money.”

Norris said the Liberty Media-owned sport was also divided between fans who followed Formula One before the popular Netflix series “Drive to Survive” and those who have been drawn to it since then.

“I think the fans you have today, because they’re very personal … not Formula One at all, I think there’s no interest in the actual race, and ‘has the driver done well or not?'” he added.

“I think this is how the fans have changed over time, and that’s great. But the biggest voice should always be ours as drivers… We have a very good idea of ​​how the race should be, how it can be, what is possible, what is not possible.

“We just want the best for everything, the best for the fans, the best viewing experience, the best competition for us, the most fun to drive.” And for now, we are not…

A Formula One spokesman responded to Norris’ comments by saying that drivers are being heard more than ever.

“The games that are going well are the ones that are always at the forefront,” he said. “Everyone has benefited from the commercial success of Formula One, including the drivers.” Decisions are made to have the best outcome for everyone: fans, teams and partners.”

Norris was fastest in final practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Last year’s championship winner lapped the Hungaroring circuit with a best time of 1:17.939, 0.117 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

Formula One champion Kimi ⁠Antonelli was third, 0.129 seconds off the pace and ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was seventh on the grid, with teammate Isack Hadjar eighth but 1.004 off the pace.