Lewis Hamilton fears 2017 rules won't change anything

Three time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said that he is afraid that the new regulations that are coming in for next season will not do anything to shake up the on-track racing.

Mercedes F1 team have enjoyed two and a half years of dominance and success after the new hybrid rules were implemented for the 2014 season. Mercedes have led the pack ever since and many people are looking on to 2017 for somebody to halt Mercedes' dominance.

However, Hamilton has doubts over the impact of the rules, and thinks that things could remain the same way they currently are.

"Generally we’re not pushing 100 per cent like perhaps they used to do," said the Briton. "It was a more extreme race back in the day, it was a sprint."

"For us, all starting in go-karts, that’s what it was from the get-go, from the lights out it was a sprint race to the end. Formula One’s not about that anymore. It’s about preserving your tyres, preserving the battery power, preserving the turbo, preserving all these elements which are not what people tune in to see."

"So, the governing body is continuing to push the car. Next year’s still going to be even more heavy, probably not have great grip. The car will probably be faster but it will have the same characteristics, probably, as what we have now," he added.

"I might be wrong, but most-likely. We’ll drive the same next year, just with a heavier car, and having to save fuel, save tyres, do the same things."

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