Romain Grosjean says aerodynamic rules help but something else hampers overtaking

Romain Grosjean might not be the biggest fan of tyres after another bad pitstop in Australia ended his race, but he blames the rubbers for the lack of overtaking. He claims the new aerodynamic package helps.

The Haas driver was following team-mate Kevin Magnussen, and he felt like the nature of the Pirelli tyres make it difficult to produce an overtaking manoeuvre.

"I was behind Magnussen. The new rules are great for following another car, but the tyres are still what they were last year. As soon as you push, you slide, and then you lose the grip," Grosjean said in an interview with RaceFans.

"So even though we can follow much easier than in the past, overtaking is still very much complicated."

The Australian Grand Prix featured a train of drivers in the midfield all held up by Antonio Giovinazzi. Carlos Sainz, another midfield candidate, gave a different opinion on the overtaking debate.

"I think there's been some overtaking. I think mainly it's down to the DRS more than the rules. That's my first impression because it was still tricky to be closer to a car in front," Sainz said.

“I was there with Stroll, I nearly got a look at him into turn one and turn three which last year would have been difficult. Maybe [it’s] a bit better. Still the cars are so fast and so dependent on downforce that it’s difficult to overtake.”