[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/new-releases\/motorsport\/2017-f1-season\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/new-releases\/motorsport\/2017-f1-season\/","headline":"2017 F1 Season- All You Need To Know.","name":"2017 F1 Season- All You Need To Know.","description":"Just 90 days on from Nico Rosberg winning \u2013 and subsequently retiring from \u2013 the FIA Formula 1 Championship, the whole F1 circus arrives at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona later this month for the first test session of the 2017 season. \u00a0 Changes to cars Over the course of the next two\/three weeks, most of the teams will be launching their \u201cnew for 2017\u201d cars \u2013 this year will see the cars wider, heavier and with significantly bigger […]","datePublished":"2017-02-03","dateModified":"2017-02-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/feature-3.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/feature-3.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/new-releases\/motorsport\/2017-f1-season\/","about":["MOTORSPORT"],"wordCount":517,"keywords":["2017 Formula 1 Season","f1","formula 1","Lance Stroll","Lewis Hamilton","nico rosberg"],"articleBody":"Just 90 days on from Nico Rosberg winning \u2013 and subsequently retiring from \u2013 the FIA Formula 1 Championship, the whole F1 circus arrives at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona later this month for the first test session of the 2017 season. \u00a0Changes to carsOver the course of the next two\/three weeks, most of the teams will be launching their \u201cnew for 2017\u201d cars \u2013 this year will see the cars wider, heavier and with significantly bigger tyres. These changes, which are hoped will make over-taking easier (although some experts doubt this), will also make the cars a lot quicker \u2013 estimates of up to 3 seconds a lap for some circuits.As well as new cars, there are new tyre compounds for the teams to choose from; and also new rules \u2013 for instance, after a Safety Car period, the race will re-start with a traditional standing start!\u00a0 Time will tell whether this improves the show or not \u2013 but \u00a0as it was the idea of the newly \u201cretired\u201d F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, expect this rule to be reversed early in the season.Who’s Driving For Who?The main talking point however, is the number of changes at the teams for the start of the season \u2013 with 7 of the 10 teams changing their driver line-up.\u00a0 Unfortunately the grid is down one team from 2016. with the demise of the Manor Racing team, which went into Administration last month \u2013 the good news being however that the team\u2019s 2016 young & talented drivers have found new homes at Force India (Esteban Ocon) and Sauber (Pascal Wehrlein). Also moving teams are Valtteri Bottas who replaces the retired Rosberg at champions, Mercedes AMG; Stoffel Vandoorne who replaces the retired Jenson Button at McLaren; Kevin Magnussen moves to Hass F1, and Nico Hulkenburg moves back to Renault F1.Who is Lance Stroll?But perhaps the most interesting changes are at Williams F1, where Felipe Massa returns after the quickest F1 retirement ever, and he will be joined by Lance Stroll \u2013 the son of one of the world\u2019s richest man, who has personally financed his son\u2019s progress to the top of the sport. With his son struggling to make an impact in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2014, Mr Stroll Snr then bought the F3 team and made his son go testing every day pre-season \u2013 as a result he won the Championship later that year.\u00a0 Then in 2016, they spent $80million buying & running a 2014 Williams F1 car and exclusively employing 20 Williams F1 staff and testing at every F1 circuit around the world \u2013in preparation for 2017, no driver, ever, has spent so much time testing a F1 car!!So with all of these changes, who will win the Championship this year?\u00a0 Red Bull & Ferrari retain their talented driver line-ups and as a result all four drivers will be at the sharp end, but Lewis Hamilton, now the designated No 1 driver at Mercedes AMG, will be odds on favourite to win his fourth Championship. \u00a0There\u2019s the small matter of 20 races to get through, and one thing is for sure \u2013 the best, most deserving driver will end up the worthy Champion!!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"New Releases","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/\/new-releases\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Motorsport","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/\/new-releases\/\/motorsport\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"2017 F1 Season- All You Need To Know.","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/new-releases\/motorsport\/2017-f1-season\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]