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 The 1992 world champion believes gadgets like Drag Reduction
Technology (DRS) and thinner, less grippy tires have taken the
thrill out of F1, leaving both fans and drivers short-changed.
"We need a bit of magic," Mansell, who won 31 grands prix, said in a
Sky Sports interview on Thursday.
"Let the drivers drive and race the cars like we used to.
"Some of the rules need tweaking, DRS is a false overtaking aid in
my opinion and doesn't give the driver the opportunity to slipstream
properly and demonstrate a bit of a chess game and perhaps plan lap
by lap, where to pass.
"Also, although Pirelli have done a great job with the tires on what
they've been asked to do I think they should go back to the old
tires where they had plenty of grip.
"Then if a driver wants to deliver the car into a corner and brake
really late, put the power on and get sideways he can do it. It's
very exciting for the fans to watch that."
Mansell said the power steering in today's F1 cars means the
penalties for hitting curbs or going off line are too light.
"All the tracks I drove on were before all the changes and we had a
lot of dangerous corners," he said.
"We used to go flying into corners knowing if we got it wrong we
would have a massive accident so we respected the car and the
corners. If we hit the curb too hard the feedback would actually
tweak your wrists and you could damage yourself.
"We had to do physical training just to be able to hang on to the
car, now drivers can drive with a couple of fingers."
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Lewis Hamilton has already surpassed Mansell's total of wins and
could break Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles,
according to Mansell who does not share F1 supremo Bernie
Ecclestone's view that the Briton is the best world champion ever.
"Lewis is a great world champion but there are many more great world
champions as well, it's just that he's got the unbelievable backing
of an incredible manufacturer," he said.
"Everyone knows I'm a Lewis fan, he is doing a great job and the
equipment he's got is fantastic, Mercedes are the best of the best
at the moment by far."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Toby Davis)
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