McLaren: Rivals wrong on 2017 rule fears

Amid recent discussions between teams and drivers regarding the faster cars coming for next year, one of the concerns voiced has been that the increase in downforce will be to the detriment of racing.

This issue was also mentioned in a GPDA letter read out at a recent Strategy Group meeting which urged F1 chiefs to be sure they were doing the right thing in pushing on with the planned 2017 changes.

But McLaren racing director Eric Boullier – whose team helped prepare the 2017 concept rules that have been adopted – says such worries are unfounded.

"I disagree with some comments in the media from my competitors," he said about the situation. "The change of the regulations have been drafted that the car will generate more [grip] from the tyres, so it is mechanical. This should not hurt the overtaking numbers.

"And on top of this, the aero, the influence of the front wing, will be less as the floor itself and the diffuser will be generating more downforce as well.

"All this normally allows more overtaking manoeuvres, but which may be only five percent more than today all the overtaking moves are driven by DRS and tyre degradation.

"So I think we are supporting this. If the drivers are happier to drive the car, they will make a better show and the fans will be happier so it will be good for F1."

Mercedes could be more dominant

Mercedes has been the most vocal against the 2017 rules changes, and on Saturday hit back at suggestions that its stance was only fuelled because of fears it could lose its dominant position.

"My opinion was always that I thought the longer you leave the rules alone, the more the field will come together and performance will converge," Toto Wolff said when asked by Motorsport.com for his views on the matter.

"It is clear other teams out there will be saying that Mercedes is opportunistic and it is clear why Mercedes want to leave the rules as they are because we are doing well.

"It is actually the opposite that is true. If we have a rule change, I think we are in a good place with our structure that is rolling to do it again, so from that principle, we believe there is an inherent risk of the racing being more boring."

Wolff stands by his belief that the changes to the cars are actually not going to be good for racing.

"The car looks spectacular and wide – I can hide under the diffuser – and it is going to have much more downforce and go much quicker through the corners," he said.

"Unfortunately it has an air wake behind the car that will make the problem even bigger that we have this year – that the moment you approach, you lose downforce, you start to slide the tyre, and it cooks the tyre and you can't overtake.

"Let's see if that happens next year, I would prefer to stay where we are and I can understand some teams want to roll the dice. I don't think that is a scientific approach but we have to take it as it is."