Brawn: F1 can't go on like this for too much longer

Best midfielders are lucky to be within a second of the pole time, more like an average of 1.6 seconds and in race pace it's not much different. One podium was all that was scored by a team outside of the top ten this year. Last year same story and the gap points between third and fourth after 21-rounds at a record high.

Brawn said of the situation, "As was the case in 2017, only once and significantly, on a very unusual street circuit like Baku, did a driver from one of those seven teams make it to the podium."

"Two podiums from a total of 123 [across the two seasons] is unacceptable, especially when it comes with an ever-increasing technical and financial divide."

"It's a problem we are tackling together with the FIA and the teams because the future of Formula 1 depends on it. There are various solutions on the table and we must all accept that we can't go on like this for too much longer."

Of the tense F1 world championship title fight between Mercedes and Ferrari, "Their battle was certainly thrilling, however, it's hard for the fans to truly get excited about a battle for eighth place."

"Having said that, congratulations to Renault for finishing fourth, confirming the progress it is making and to Haas, as finishing fifth in only your third year in the sport is a great achievement," added Brawn.