Sir Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo have revealed the issues they have experienced with visibility as a result of the larger 18-inch tyres.
The technical regulations in Formula 1 have undergone a major alteration ahead of the new season, with the aerodynamics of the cars reducing in a move that includes the return of ground effect, while the enlargement of the rubber combines with that to promote closer racing and more frequent overtaking.
Williams pairing Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon have already agreed with Max Verstappen that the new tyres might obstruct their view of the track, and Hamilton now testifies that he can see a lot less than before, joking that he might need to find a quirky way to elevate his position in the car.
“I’m probably sitting a little bit too low because I’m seeing a lot of sky at the moment but I’ll get a cushion or something to sit higher,” he said, as per RaceFans.
Ricciardo revealed he had encountered the same problem but suggested that it is something that the drivers will become accustomed to.
“[It is] definitely a little more tricky [because] there’s just more in the way,” he added, as quoted by PlanetF1.
“[It is] something we’ll get used to”.
Charles Leclerc wore a helmet cam at last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, giving fans rare access to what a driver sees while out on track.
The Australian emphasises that visibility is difficult for a driver from the cockpit regardless of the size of the tyres.
“It’s another thing with F1 – obviously, it’s a very unrelatable sport because no one can jump in the car and really experience what it’s like but even a lot of onboard cameras from the top,” he explained.
“So you see so much more, so you might think you’re riding with the driver, but you’re not really getting like the driver’s point of view actually they did test a few cameras last year. But my point is you don’t see that much, period.
“This year, you see less again, but you also get used to it and you just find reference points and things like this. So it is something that gets easier over time.”
The 32-year-old concedes that the drivers’ view of the circuit was easier in cars from years gone by.
“But [visibility] probably hasn’t been that great since the old days when they were sitting right at the front of the car and a lot higher,” he stated.