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Eric Boullier has hit back at suggestions the 2017 regulations could actually hurt formula one. Part of Mercedes' opposition to the wider cars with bigger wings for next year was the argument that more downforce will just make overtaking more difficult. "I disagree with some comments made by our rivals in the media," Boullier, McLaren's team boss, said.
The 2017 changes are backed primarily by Red Bull - whose Dr Helmut Marko has hit out at Mercedes chief Toto Wolff's "paranoia" - as well as McLaren-Honda. It is actually McLaren's concept that was the basis of the 2017 chassis rules.
Boullier is quoted by Spain's El Confidencial as pointing out that while the new cars will have more downforce, the wider tyres will produce more "mechanical grip". "This should not affect the amount of overtaking," he insisted. "Additionally, the influence of the front wing will be lower, since the floor and the diffuser will generate more downforce, allowing more overtaking," said Boullier. (GMM)
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Replies (3)
Login to replyVet5
Posts: 225
I am all for the 2017 rules! Overtaking will be difficult if they agree to scrap the DRS, but drivers will be able to catch up in the corners, which will lead to exciting overtakes like in the late 90's, early 2000's, I think people are worrying that there will be less overtaking on the straights which I do belive will be more difficult, but who likes drag racing? let them race with the wider cars, Mercedes are bricking it for the new rules because it will basically be cars relying on chassis more than engine power and if you look at RedBull, they had the less powerful engine on the grid from 2009-2013 (Excluding the hybrid era) and they won because of the chassis. Though I think if McLaren get things right in the aero department they will be top runners again, and it seems they are doing a Mercedes here i.e. Mercedes came into the sport in 2010 with the intention of using a 1.6 V6 hybrid, they brought that forward to the FIA/FOM in June 2010 (I think) because they knew they would obliterate the competition, McLaren will be doing the same, wouldn't surprise me if they have already created a few chassis's under the awaited 2017 regulations.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It will be interesting to see how the Honda testmule-engine will work for next year's design. Im pretty sure McLaren will have a nice chassis-advantage, they did design the compromise concept for next year after all.
khasmir
Posts: 893
They can predict all they want but it's not unusual for thing to turn out very differently.