Chase Carey: 'We had to break F1's negative spiral'

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has defended the winds of change which have been unleashed upon the sport, insisting  F1 cannot grow without transformation.

From the introduction this year of the controversial Halo to the disputable decision to part with F1's traditional grid girls, to the tweaking of long-standing race start times, fans have offered mixed reactions to recent resolutions.

Carey however insists the fans and the sport's future prosperity are at the center of his preoccupations.

"The fans are incredibly important to us, just as Europe - including Gremany - is our base," the F1 boss told Sport Bild.

"So our motto is: same game, different approach. We want to create a product that includes everything the fans grew up with, but that is not frozen in time.

• Carey warns Ferrari: 'The interests of the fans come first!'

"Because if you do not allow change, you cannot grow.

"Bernie Ecclestone said himself in 2016 that he would not buy a ticket to a race. There was a negative spiral and we had to break it." he added.

Carey casts a positive view on Formula 1's current state of affairs, although he would like to see more "competition and drama" compared to last season, and the emergence of an "underdog".

"Lewis Hamilton is a very special personality," said the American executive.

"Half of Holland comes to the races to see Max Verstappen, and Ferrari is the brightest light in the sport.

"Last year it was too much of a duel between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. I wish that sometimes an underdog would win rather than only the favourites.

"Can Fernando Alonso win again? Can McLaren attack with Renault? Will Verstappen have more luck than in the first half of 2017?

"They would all be nice scenarios," he added.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter