Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton believes grands prix should be longer not shorter.

Earlier this week, following the latest meeting of the F1 Commission, it was confirmed that the maximum race length will be shortened from next season, from 305km (189.5 miles) to 290km (180.2 miles).

This is due to the increase in fuel flow rates following the energy 'starvation' witnessed at a number of races this year.

With the power split increasing from 53/47 to 58/42 next season, the fuel flow rate will increase by 5%. In 2028 it will increase by 13% as the power split rises to 60/40.

Naturally, an increase in fuel flow rate means more fuel, which would require larger fuel tanks, which would in turn need a redesign of the cars.

However, with an eye on the budget cap, the teams were unwilling to do this since they want all the available funds to upgrade their cars, many of which will be basically carried over, rather than go for a complete new design.

As a result it was proposed that race distance at some of the more fuel demanding events, be reduced, which raised fears of a variation in race distances over the course of the season. Hence the new, agreed limit.

Hamilton does not agree with the move.

"The races should be longer because they are physically easier than ever before," the Ferrari driver told reporters in Baku today.

"This is supposed to be a sport which is the most physically and mentally demanding," he continued, "and there are some where you are on the edge. But that is what you want to see," he insisted, "athletes right on the edge of performance and pushing their bodies further, pushing the levels and pushing the boundaries. Shortening the races makes absolutely no sense to me.

"I don't really know anything about it or any of the reasons they put it up behind it," he admitted. "I think the races should be longer because the races are physically easier than ever before. So shortening, I don't think, makes much sense. If you think about this weekend, we have the C3, 4, 5s, that can pretty much all do the race distance.

"So we have a lot of races where it's only a one stop. It's not particularly challenging.

"So for me, there's been many races where I wish we had more laps. It's the opposite that I would be asking for which is longer races, to be honest."

"It's a good compromise that we need to make to make our sport better and rely more on driving rather than who can look after our battery the best," argued Lando Norris.

"I think in a few years' time when all engine manufacturers are on board with having more fuel again and having bigger tanks and all of that, then it's something we can go back to, the longer races and the races that we've always had in Formula One," he added.

"I would run 50% less if it would give me a nicer engine to drive," laughed Max Verstappen. "But, I don't think it's a big problem. If we have to shorten it a little bit for the fuel consumption but for overall a better racing experience then I think everyone will take it."