Verstappen says overtaking more enjoyable this year

Max Verstappen says overtaking in Formula 1 this year is more enjoyable because drivers have to work harder to make a move stick.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13, Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 W08, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70H, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W08, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13, Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W08, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB13, Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, climbs out of his car after retiring

This year's generation of F1 cars have much higher downforce and shorter braking distances, making passing much more challenging for drivers.

There had been fears that overtaking would be very difficult and, as the table below shows, the number of passes has gone down.

In each of the first three races of the season - Australia, China and Bahrain - there have been fewer overtakes compared to the respective 2016 event.

Overtakes* in the first three races

Race	2016	2017	% change
Australia	26	2	-92.3
China	128	31	-75.8
Bahrain	66	32	-51.5
*Average*	73	22

The 2016 Chinese GP figure is skewed slightly by Lewis Hamilton starting at the back of the grid while the race featured the most pitstops that season with 66 but the difference remains notable.

When the DRS overtaking aid was introduced in 2011, the number of passes nearly doubled from 452 to 821 and was nearly four times that of seasons during the late '90s and early '00s.

On the evidence of this year so far, the total number of overtakes is set to return to closer to a figure seen in the late '90s and early '00s.

But while the total number has reduced, the quality has arguably increased with a series of thrilling moves in China and Bahrain.

Verstappen, who in 2016 broke the record for the most overtakes in a single season with 78, believes the overtaking aid has had less of an impact this year and that is something he feels is a good thing.

"It's harder than it was last year but it's definitely not too bad," he said. "If you are on new tyres you still have one or two laps to really fight for it.

"This season the DRS is not as helpful. In China most of the passes were done without the DRS - it gives you more fun as well.

"Into Turn 6 in China is nice to overtake, especially when you are quite late on the brakes and if you go even later on the brakes is good."

*An overtaking move is classed as one that takes place during complete flying laps - so the opening lap is discounted - and is maintained all the way to the lap's finish line.