Mercedes-AMG won't dominate F1 in 2017: Webber

F1 is about to get more exciting… That's the opinion of retired WEC driver and F1 winner, Mark Webber.

Indeed, when the 2017 F1 season begins in Melbourne on March 26, it's going to be a very different and more exciting championship, he says.

In conversation during the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour race, an event he dubbed world-class, Webber opined that while the Mercedes-AMG F1 team will be strong in 2017, he's tipping Red Bull to edge ahead.

For the previous three years, F1 driver and constructor championships have been dominated by Mercedes, but former Red Bull F1 and Porsche LPM1 sports car driver Mark Webber reckons the new rules will shake up the heirachy.

"I think Red Bull have had a very quiet winter and I think they'll be very strong. It really depends on who unlocks this new regulation, and traditionally Adrian [Newey] has been very good at that."

Newey is Red Bull Racing's chief technical officer and master aerodynamicist. In the last couple of years he has spent less time working with the F1 team, with a new found focus on his road car pet project, the Aston Martin Red Bull supercar dubbed AM-RB 001.

The new F1 regulations have rekindled Newey's interest in the sport and he is understood to be more involved in the RB13 F1 car that will contest the 2017 season.

Nevertheless, Webber reckons the Germans will be fast.

"Mercedes have had the luxury of closing out a championship very early, so that means you've got a big chance to put your resources onto the year after program earlier than anyone else, potentially. So they have a very good engine, we know that, that's their main strength.

"But operationally Red Bull were the best team last year. Reliability they were the best team. Mercedes still had some technical challenges. So when it's down to the fine points Red Bell are very good at that."

The rule changes will see much faster lap times than 2016, via wider tyres with more grip and more aerodynamic downforce. These changes will mean the cars will get a fresh new appearance, with lower rear wings and ultra-fat rear tyres, up from 325mm to 405mm wide.

The FIA says lap times will be slashed by around three seconds on average – a lifetime in F1 – and that drivers will be feel the punishing g-forces more.

The one aspect that falls in Mercedes-Benz's favour, however, is more aero needs more engine to overcome drag.

Just two weeks ago, the new owner of F1, Liberty Media, displaced long-time supremo, Bernie Ecclestone. Combined with the new tech regs, there's potential for more change in F1 than has been the case for many years.

Webber is still involved in F1, commentating for broadcaster Channel 4 in the UK and Channel 10 in Australia and he says 2017 will see driver's earn their keep more than ever.

"It'll take a while to settle down commercially, off the back off this [ownership change], but the sporting side should be a good step forward.

"The cars will be quicker than they've been for a long time, so drivers will earn their money again which is great, and we'll go back to lap times that we used to do 10 years ago. I'm looking forward to that," he said.

And within the Red Bull Racing F1 team Webber says compatriot Daniel Ricciardo has a strong chance to stamp his authority on the 2017 season, despite his freakishly talented young-gun team mate Max Verstappen looking strong.

"It'll be tight – it was at the end of last year. But I think Daniel has more composure. Obviously that experience will be very, very useful in the early part of the championship. He's seen more regulation [changes], he's seen more types of cars, that's an advantage for him.

"Max is still learning, but he's an unbelievable talent.

"It's gonna be a good battle there. I think the composure side is a big, big plus for Daniel."