F1 drivers remain unconvinced by proposed 2017 regulation changes

Drivers are still not sure that Formula 1 is heading in the "right direction" with its proposed 2017 rules package, as the deadline for an agreement looms.

The sign-off for the regulation changes, which could make cars five seconds per lap quicker through wider tires and increased downforce, needs to be made by Saturday and was due to take place earlier this week.

However, Sky Sports understands race promoters who sit on the F1 Commission did not attend the pre-Russian GP meeting, and the matter will now be decided by electronic vote.

Team bosses appear to be split on whether the changes are good for the sport, with Toto Wolff and Christian Horner presenting different arguments, and it appears drivers remain unconvinced.

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"Our opinion was it's not the right direction to go," championship leader Nico Rosberg said. "We we were hoping they would re-look at it and double check the technical point of view. This is the way it is, all we can do is accept it. 

"We hope there are some surprises. Maybe we'll love the cars, even more than now. Maybe the grip will feel great. Now's just about waiting and making the most of it."

While wider tyres should increase mechanical grip and help the show, adding more downforce is only likely to increase the dirty airflow which currently makes it nigh on impossible for one car to follow another closely.

Force India driver Sergio Perez was similarly unimpressed by the proposed tweaks.

"I really hope we can see more competition between the teams," he said. "In my opinion, F1 needs more competition, rather than downforce."

Haas' Esteban Gutierrez, meanwhile, added: "What we need is to increase the mechanical grip of the tyres. Downforce would make following a car more difficult, but we don't have an option."

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Daniil Kvyat seemed to be the only man in Thursday's Drivers' Press Conference willing to provide a different point of view.

"It could make it interesting," the Red Bull driver said. "They have limited time to prepare it so everyone might start in similar positions which could mean closer racing, perhaps.

F1 2017: What are the proposed rules?

"If downforce is generated in the right way and with the mechanical grip from the tyres, it could be interesting for racing. To reach incredible speeds would be quite cool."

The strategy group and F1 Commission were due to meet in London on Tuesday to thrash out the final details for the rules package and while the vote didn't go through and didn't include drivers, Rosberg is confident they will get more of a say in the future.

This is after GPDA penned a hard-hitting open letter to F1 stakeholders ahead of the Bahrain GP last month, calling for a restructuring of the sport's governance after a number of unpopular rule changes.

"We've been trying to get more involved and it's actually moving in right direction," the German said. "The FIA are asking us more things now, they want to hear our opinion and they're asking us for get-togethers. The process is going well, I think. With time, lets see how it goes. 

"We think we are wise enough to help the sport."

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