Formula 1’s revamped technical regulations will see physical challenges make drivers earn their keep for the first time in years according to retired 12-year grand prix veteran Mark Webber.
Webber, who captured nine grand prix wins during his F1 career from 2002 to 2013, has no doubts the on-track intensity will rise in the wake of more powerful machinery being introduced this season.
“The cars will be a lot quicker than they have been for a long time,” Webber told Speedcafe.com.
“So the drivers will be earning their money again which is great.
“They will be going back to lap times we used to do 10 years ago.
“I think that will be a good visual to watch. The cars will be very, very fast.
“Sporting wise I’m looking forward to it.”
With the cars designed to generate more downforce in 2017, the machines will be sensitive to power more than ever.
“You will need a bigger engine more than ever because there’s more drag and the tyres are wider,” Webber said.
“The cars are getting quite heavy (about 728kg including driver for 2017) which is a bit unfortunate.
“But apart from the rubbish profile tyre; we needed a bigger profile tyre, the rest of it looks pretty good.
“The drivers will be sweating on the podium and you will see them working a bit harder.”
While there has been a degree of scepticism over how F1’s new custodians, Liberty Media, plan to transform the sport, Webber cautioned that the American group should not be judged without proper time and consideration.
“Commercially it will take a couple of years for these guys (Liberty Media), at least two years, to work out how to do it their way,” the Porsche 2015 World Endurance Championship-winning driver said.
“They have got to have the collaboration with the teams and the promoters and work out how to do that. Then all the contracts with fresh tracks.
“We can’t measure Liberty in the first five minutes. It’s going to take a while.”
Perhaps the most prudent signing by Liberty Media is Ross Brawn as the sport’s managing director of motorsports.
In terms of a lieutenant for the new regime, Brawn packs plenty of currency as a former frontline F1 engineer and title-winning team principal.
Brawn will not make any changes to the sport in the foreseeable future where he will initially at least by more focussed on the broader 2020 regulations.
“I think Ross (Brawn) is a good addition. That is a very good signing there,” Webber said.
“It’s really the next big regulation that Ross can influence and try and help the smaller teams.
“It’s going to be how they pay the bigger teams and the discrepancy of the commercial situation and give other teams a bit more of a chance.
“There’s never been a common part in F1 ever. But is there a common part close in 2021, who knows?
“Stuff like that will be totally on the table.”
The so-called ‘Americanisation’ of F1 is seen as a one of the areas which may alienate the sport from its long-founded global stature.
“Digitally (social media), it is the obvious avenue where things can change.
“So let’s see how they manage to capture that.
“They (Liberty) have an American background so they know how to capture that but F1 is a different beast. Motorsport in general is different.
“They are right up with it in terms of their American background. They know how to do it.
“F1 is global and that’s where Ross will help.
“They are (by nature) very American centric and have been very successful there, so let’s see how they translate that commercial into a new model which is F1.
“It’s a tough audience in America and they are not overly big on the technical side of the sport and what we bring.”
The opening round of the Formula 1 World Championship starts with the Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 24-26.
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