Ross Brawn fears new supremacy in 2017

After noting the supremacy of Mercedes GP in F1 In recent years since the introduction of the 6l V1.6 turbo/hybrid, the premier single-seater discipline has been impatiently awaiting the implementation of the new 2017 regulations where downforce will be reinforced and performance increased.

F1's governing bodies hope these changes will reshuffle the cards in the peloton after seeing Mercedes win 50 Grands Prix in 58 starts, but former Mercedes GP technical director Ross Brawn fears that one team will dominate even more competition.

“There will clearly be positives in 2017, confided Ross Brawn on ESPN. The more rules we maintain, the closer the teams tend to get. Mercedes continues to win but is starting to get caught up and the gaps would have continued to narrow over time. »

“With a new regulation, an emerging team adapts more easily than the others. That's what I've always tried to do... Someone could have a different approach to the rulebook and have a big advantage.", warned Ross Brawn.

If the former owner of Brawn GP was careful not to make any predictions, Mercedes and Red Bull seem to be his favorites for next year.

“We must not underestimate Mercedes, which is a successful team and which has a good car. They have four teams with Mercedes engines and only one wins, recalled Ross Brawn. Red Bull was one of the protagonists behind these changes and that is why I repeat that politics has always been present in F1. »

Ross Brawn is also concerned about the aero disruptions that pilots could suffer with the increase in downforce.

“The increase in performance will be expected, including in terms of tires, but it will mainly come from downforce and I am still a little worried about the repercussions of the cars on each other on the track, explained the former British engineer. The more aero performance a car has, the more sensitive it is to disturbances generated by car which precedes it. This is not always the case because aerodynamics can be studied to reduce this impact. »