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Karun Chandhok believes Formula 1 could learn from the simplicity of 1990s grand prix cars as it battles the latest cost crisis.

The former HRT and Lotus/Caterham driver, who is now racing in Formula E and sportscars, drove an ex-Jacques Villeneuve 1996 Williams-Renault FW16 last week.

Chandhok, who has tried a wide range of historic grand prix cars in recent years, suggests that such machinery proves less expensive and complex cars are just as appealing.

"One of the thing the strikes you is how simple it is in many ways," Chandhok told AUTOSPORT.

"Look at the front wing in comparison to a modern one, which looks ridiculous.

"The 1996 Williams is a nice looking car and I don't know a single person who looks at it and says that it's ugly.

"You always want the sport to evolve, but you do get to a point where you have to ask if you are spending too much money on things that the fans don't really care about.

"There's a lot of things that F1 has done right to cut costs and bring F1 into the more logical world, but the 1996 Williams still looks spectacular even though it is far simpler than a current car.

"There is a lesson in that."

VIDEO: CHANDHOK TRIES VILLENEUVE'S WILLIAMS

Chandhok added that greater simplicity of machinery could also allow the cars to be run more easily.

"This particular chassis hadn't run for 17 years, but they wheeled it out, fired it up and away it went.

"It's actually quite simple, just 10 people standing in an easy-up running a car that won the world championship.

"It shows that F1 has maybe got a bit out of control with spending.

"I was told by Frank [Williams] that they spent £70 million to win the world championship that year.

"That's the fun of driving heritage cars, you can speak to people who know the numbers and know all the stories and it really makes you think."