Class B split and talk "damaging F1 a lot"
Formula's 1 split into two tiers and the way it forces drivers to think about fake class wins and titles is damaging grand prix racing a lot, reckons Sergio Perez.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have dominated the grid for the last three seasons, with only Williams's performances in 2014 and 2015 preventing those teams locking out the top positions in the constructors' championship every year since 2013.
The gap between the big three teams and the rest of F1 has increased in the last couple of seasons, with Perez's team Force India finishing a distant fourth in 2016 and 2017.
Perez is one of the only drivers outside those teams to score a podium in the last three seasons, which he says is because F1 has changed significantly even since 2012, when he scored three podiums for a Sauber team that was not even best of the rest.
"That is quite difficult," he told Motorsport.com. "The difference in budget these days, going into a new generation of cars, is tremendous.
"You cannot compete. The last four or five years it was simply two categories in Formula 1.
"I've never heard before, that people were talking about "yeah, I won the race", when you are best of the rest, or 'I'm leading the championship' if you are best of the rest.
"That shouldn't be the way. That is damaging the sport a lot."
Watch Haas chief talk about F1 budgets
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen recently told Motorsport.com he has created a 'Class B' title in his mind because the midfield cannot fight for outright honours.
Since the beginning of the 2016 season, the grand prix podium has included a non-Mercedes/Ferrari/Red Bull driver just five times.
Perez and Force India are responsible for three of those upsets (Azerbaijan and Monaco in 2016, and Azerbaijan this year), with Williams earning the other two (Valtteri Bottas in Canada in 2016 and Lance Stroll in Azerbaijan last year).
The current 'Class B' fight is being led by Renault's Nico Hulkenberg, who has been best of the rest on four occasions this season.
He told Motorsport.com: "The top six is the top six. They are out of reach.
"As a driver, even though you're frustrated and disappointed, it is the way it is. Your ambition is each time you know to still get the best out of yourself, the car, beat your team-mate.
"You go for the next best thing."
F1's next major change is scheduled for 2021, when sweeping resource restrictions and fairer funding distribution are supposed to be brought in alongside car and engine changes.
Though Perez believes the instability of big rules changes helps the big teams more, the hope is that the wider upheaval will level the playing field.
"I really hope for the benefit of the sport that in 2021 you have five teams fighting for victories every race," said Perez.
"That will be a dream come true. As a fan, I'd like to see that."

Sergio Perez, Force India VJM11, leads Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault Sport F1 Team R.S. 18, and Charles Leclerc, Sauber C37
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images

Previous article
Mercedes and Petronas discussing new fuel projects
Next article
Sainz to seek out Alonso for McLaren advice

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Author | Scott Mitchell |
Class B split and talk "damaging F1 a lot"
Trending
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end