Hamilton slams F1's new qualifying format

Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton has lashed out at the plans of new qualifying format in the Formula One, saying the drivers should be consulted before changing the rules.

- Formula One qualifying: What's the new format

A list of proposed bodywork changes for 2017 published by the governing FIA on Wednesday envisaged car weights increasing from 702kg to 722kg including bigger tyres which accounted for an estimated five kg.

The measures are part of a package of sweeping changes aimed at livening up the sport with faster, louder and more challenging cars, which will also be wider.

The 31-year-old insisted that there was no need to change the regulations, calling on the management to just make the cars lighter, Sport24 reported.

Hamilton said the cars are already super heavy and added that it would be really difficult to drive if it would be made even heavier.

Hamilton said the driver's opinion should be valued more in such circumstances, saying that they were better aware as to what is good for the car.

"I don’t agree with the changes that have been made over many years," Mercedes driver Hamilton told reporters after the third day of pre-season testing on Wednesday.

"I think the drivers should be consulted more. We have a feeling in the car and what could be made better. We do know what does not feel good and what to improve," added the 31-year-old Briton.

He pointed out that when he entered the sport with McLaren in 2007, before the current V6 turbo hybrid era, the cars had weighed around 600 kg.

"I know (race director) Charlie (Whiting) is keen to hear from us drivers on what can be better, but those that have been implemented just now are nothing to do with us," said the triple champion.

"We need some more battles. I don’t know what the answer is but whatever the decisions they have been making, they have not been working for some time."

The new rules are likely to be introduced for the first race of the season in Melbourne on March 20.