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Lewis Hamilton’s plea to sex up Formula 1 has been backed by new British Grand Prix boss Patrick Allen.

The Silverstone MD warned the sport is heading for death row unless something is done to make driving skill more important than technology.

Despite the promise of record figures for the July GP, Allen said touring cars are more entertaining to watch than F1's 200mph beasts and he issued a plea for change before it’s too late.

“What we are seeing in F1 is a bit of a procession. How interesting is that to watch?” said Allen

“Even Lewis has been quoted has saying it is great for Britain to see him back as world champion but if he wins every week how long is it before people starting thinking it’s a bit too predictable.

“Even the drivers themselves admit we need some help. We need the engine noise back, too, in my opinion.

(Image: Reuters)

“I wonder sometimes if the technical director should be on the podium because it’s the car that wins the race, not the driver.

“Five, six, seven years from now, if the fans start dwindling away because the product is no longer interesting then we will have a problem.

“That’s why I would urge the likes of FOM and the FIA to look at the rules, look at how we make the car more challenging to drive and make it a more closely fought rather than more technical.

“Fans come to watch racing, they don’t just come to watch a guy looking at a data screen, when we get to that we’ve lost the very soul of the sport.

“People like to see the nip and tuck, the duel. Drivers are the gladiators in this arena and that’s what fans want to see.”

In pictures - Bahrain Grand Prix: