Motorsport: Hamilton jumps to F1's defence

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP locks up as he brakes while driving during day four of Formula One Winter Testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. Photo / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at the critics who have labelled the latest version of Formula One as boring.

Just two races into the new campaign, and with Mercedes easily winning both the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, the sport's naysayers have been taking pot-shots.

The advent of new technology in the form of the 1.6-litre V6 turbo-charged power units has shaken up the grid, with Red Bull struggling after winning the past four world titles.

Apparently, F1's latest crisis is to lead to talks between supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo and FIA president Jean Todt in Bahrain this weekend before Sunday's race.

Ecclestone and Di Montezemolo now have ammunition from fans after a poll conducted on Ferrari's website, with more than 50,000 expressing an opinion.

The results have delivered an overwhelmingly negative reaction, with 83 per cent disappointed with the new format, dismissing it mainly because of the drivers being forced to lift off to save fuel.

In addition, the fans are against the quieter noise of the new power units, while they are also confused by rules they claim are now too complicated.

Ferrari claim the "no" vote increased dramatically after the race in Malaysia, with the most vociferous in their opinions being those from Italy, Britain, France and Australia.

Yet Hamilton, who triumphed in Malaysia, said: "I think given the nature of the sport, Di Montezemolo didn't say a thing when Michael [Schumacher] won those five world championships [from 2000-2004].

"It's the same when McLaren won all their championships that they didn't say anything, and the same with Red Bull when they won, they weren't saying anything."

Hamilton appreciates F1 may lack the excitement of other motor sport series, but that has often been the way given the high levels of technology involved.

"Of course, on one hand, you want to be winning races, getting pole positions, but as a Formula One fan and a racing fan, the great races are in GP2 and go-karts," assessed Hamilton.

"We're in a period of time when technology is everything, and the fact Mercedes have developed better technology than everyone, have generally done a better job this year.

"Red Bull have previously had the best car overall, but it looks like it may change this year and that's a positive," the British driver said.

- AAP