Following another car easier with new aero rules - Magnussen

Haas' Kevin Magnussen gave the thumbs up to F1's new aero rules after experiencing the wake of another car during testing in Barcelona.

In a bid to promote overtaking and closer racing, and ultimately improve the spectacle for the fans, Formula 1 introduced a raft of aero changes that included a bigger, simpler front wing, modified barge boards and a bigger rear wing.

The aimed purpose is to diminish the effect of a car's wake, the turbulent air behind a car that disrupt a following car's downforce.

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After getting up close and personal with a rival car out on the track, Magnussen believes the changes are having the intended effect as he was able to follow the preceding driver more easily.

"I followed a car today and it really, really feels a lot better than last year," said the Dane.

"I heard so many people, even guys from here when the car was just in the windtunnel, a lot of people were saying it wouldn't make any difference.

"Following a car today I felt a big difference -- I could actually follow. So it will be interesting to see...

"I was a lot faster than the guy I was following, the lap that I caught him, I got past him. I must have been around two seconds faster.

"In which case you also would have passed him last year, but it just felt very, very, different... much better.

"I was behind him for maybe a lap and a half? Something like that. It felt much better than last year."

Magnussen insisted however that the new rules will require further validation, on various tracks and in racing conditions.

"The whole car just feels more consistent and stable behind another car," he added.

"I'm looking forward to seeing if other tracks are the same - there's always different factors you might have overlooked so you come to another track and it might be different.

"But first signs are good, I would say, in this following aspect."

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