Jeremy Clarkson Proposes Solutions to Enhance Formula 1 Excitement

Following the relatively uneventful 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, renowned television personality and humorist Jeremy Clarkson has proposed an intriguing idea to make Formula 1 racing more consistently thrilling. In a recent post on X, he suggested that tracks where overtaking is challenging should not be used.

The Aftermath of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen clinched his first win of the 2025 Formula 1 season at Suzuka, with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri joining him on the podium. Despite an impressive display of precision driving from Verstappen, the race was criticized for its lack of action.

Only 15 overtakes were recorded during the Grand Prix, with 11 drivers finishing in their starting positions. In the top 10, it was only Ferrari‘s Lewis Hamilton who gained a position by overtaking Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar. This is a significant drop from the 48 overtakes recorded in the previous year.

The Challenges of Overtaking in Formula 1

Nico Hulkenberg expressed his frustration during the race, stating, “I spent a lot of the race in traffic and it’s not much fun looking at someone’s rear wing in the DRS.” Max Verstappen explained the difficulties in a discussion with Motorsport.com, saying, “A lot of fast corners and that makes it very hard to follow. The tyres get very hot when you get close to someone. The cars get better every year as well, with a lot of dirty air, so it just gets harder and harder.

Clarkson’s Response to the Design of the Cars

In response to a fan who questioned whether the change should come from the design of the cars, Clarkson responded, “Sure. The cars are bigger so accept that, ignore the ‘incentives’, and use tracks that are suitable. Ultimately, the revenue comes from fans. Always.

Upcoming Changes in Formula 1 for 2026

The upcoming 2026 season will bring several changes, including a powertrain with a renewed focus on hybrid power. However, these changes will also see the cars become smaller and lighter, with a reduced width of 100mm to 1,900mm, a shortened wheelbase of 200mm to 3400mm, and a minimum weight drop of 30kg to 768kg.