Verstappen: Overtaking more fun this year

This year's new-generation F1 cars have significantly more downforce, resulting in higher cornering speeds and shorter braking distances, making passing much more challenging.

Fears that the number of overtaking moves would be cut have been realised, as the table below shows, in each of the first three grands prix of 2017 compares to last year.

Overtakes in the first three races

NB. An overtaking move is classed as one that takes place during complete flying laps - so the opening lap is discounted - and is maintained all the way to the lap's finish line.

The 2016 Chinese Grand Prix figure is skewed slightly by Lewis Hamilton starting at the back of the grid, and that race featured the most pitstops of 2016 with 66, but the difference remains notable.

After three races in 2016, the average number of overtaking move in each grand prix was 73, while so far this season it is 21.

When the DRS overtaking aid was introduced in 2011, the number of passes nearly doubled from 452 to 821 and was nearly four times that of seasons during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

On the evidence of this year so far, the total number of overtaking moves is set to return to being closer to those figures around the turn of the century.

But while the total number has reduced, the quality has arguably increased with a series of thrilling moves made in China and Bahrain.

Verstappen, who in 2016 broke the record for the passes in a single season with 78, believes DRS has had less of an impact this year, which is a good thing.

"It's harder than it was last year but it's definitely not too bad," he said.

"If you are on new tyres you still have one or two laps to really fight for it.

"This season the DRS is not as helpful.

"In China most of the passes were done without the DRS - it gives you more fun as well.

"Into Turn 6 in China is nice to overtake, especially when you are quite late on the brakes and if you go even later on the brakes is good."