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F1 pecking order tipped to change during 2017 by Williams's Smedley

Formula 1's pecking order could change during 2017 amid a development race fuelled by the new regulations, Williams performance chief Rob Smedley believes.

More aggressive-looking F1 cars with wider front and rear wings will be introduced as part of heavily-revised aerodynamic rules, and the cars will be fitted with wider tyres.

With teams starting with new concepts, there is an expectation development will be "relentless" and consistent throughout the season.

As a result, Smedley believes the car that starts off as the quickest in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 26 will not be the same as at the final in Abu Dhabi on November 26.

"We've developed our car, we've done reasonable amount of development in the windtunnel," Smedley told Autosport.

"Over and above that, the key thing for 2017 is that we've got a good base in which to develop.

"I don't expect the fastest car in Australia to be the fastest car in Abu Dhabi.

"What that allows is some change in the pecking order through the season.

"If that happens, the rules have ultimately been successful."

While Smedley hopes the regulations will shake up the field, he is not convinced there will be a dramatic change in the overall order.

"I hope it's going to shake things up a bit but I don't think we'll have a complete change in pecking order," he said.

"In F1, no one ever won a world championship without a substantial budget.

"Money does count, at least in this era of F1.

"But that is not to say the intra groups - the front, midfield and back - are not going to get shaken up a bit and you're not going to have more people in that top group.

"It's really important you get more people up in that top group and we're starting weekend with it not being entirely clear who is going to win the race - that is what turns the fans off.

"If you go into it thinking four or five drivers can win here, that's really exciting and I hope that's what the new regulations do for us."

Zdroj: autosport.com