Mar.14 (GMM) Michael Schumacher does not believe F1's new no-refuelling era is going to spice up the sport.

The German, who completed his F1 return in Bahrain by finishing in sixth place behind his teammate Nico Rosberg, believes the 49-lap race was an indication of how the 2010 season is going to unfold.

"It's the start and then just sort of 'go your pace' and not do mistakes," the seven time world champion told the BBC.

"Overtaking is basically impossible, other than if somebody makes a mistake -- that's the action we are going to have with unfortunately this kind of environment of race strategy," Schumacher added.

Lewis Hamilton, who finished third, said the new format - where drivers start the race carrying a huge fuel load and look after the tyres - had made his race slightly frustrating.

"It definitely didn't make the racing more exciting in terms of overtaking. I wasn't able to follow in the first third of the circuit.

"But it is an interesting season ahead of us. Everyone is learning how to use tyres more -- try to understand the tyres, conserve the fuel load, when to attack and not to attack," added the Briton.

Quadruple world champion and Bahrain steward Alain Prost believes F1 will benefit from the refuelling ban, which was last in place when he won his final title in 1993.

"The drivers have never experimented with that before, so they are a bit confused, even the teams," said the Frenchman.

"They need to get used to it. It may take some races but it will be better."

Indeed, Jenson Button acknowledged that he had nursed one of his sets of tyres too much, while Felipe Massa said he was forced to conserve fuel for 30 laps.

Prost is confident the current generation of drivers will adjust.

"They have got used to a sprint -- in free practice, qualifying, race. And having 60kg of fuel or 10kg makes no difference," he said.

"When you start with 160kg you have to think differently, and they are not used to that," said the 55-year-old.

"After a few races, I am sure the good drivers, the top drivers, will like it."

Fellow grand prix veteran David Coulthard agreed that F1's new formula needs "time to settle down".

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version