Hembery says 2017 performance like jumping from GP2 to F1

Pirelli chief Paul Hembery has tipped a huge performance leap for formula one as a result of the rules changes for 2017.

In response to dwindling spectator numbers, the sport collectively agreed that it needs to dramatically speed up the cars next year.

"I think formula one lost a little bit of its excitement," Sebastian Vettel said recently.

F1 legend Gerhard Berger agrees and told Ole newspaper, "Right now, the only real motor sport is MotoGP. Formula 1 must decide whether it is a sport, a show or a test bed for the automotive industry."

The wider cars and tyres and bigger wings will speed things up dramatically for 2017, with Pirelli chief Paul Hembery saying the step from 2016 "will be like jumping from GP2 to F1".

He is quoted by Autosprint as saying the sporting aspect will rev up in 2017, too.

"Often, changes like these can bring out the differences between the drivers, but I am sure that most of them will say this is what they want -- that the challenge is bigger," added Hembery.