F1: Racing won't be exciting in 2017 - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg does not think the planned changes to the Formula 1 regulations for 2017 will produce good battles between drivers on track.

Members of the Strategy Group and F1 Commission are meeting on Tuesday to finalize the new rules for next season, with plans including cars with more downforce, plus wider front and rear tires due to be signed off at the end of the month.

Rosberg feels the push for faster cars with more downforce will make overtaking tougher and as a result is pushing F1 in the wrong direction.

"We need to be battling each other and 2017, I don't think will deliver that because, as we know, downforce is the thing that is hindering us," he said. "It's one of the main things because you can't follow as closely.

"If you [have] 30 percent more downforce it's clearly going to go more in the wrong direction. The priority has to make more battling and more overtaking possible, so it's the wrong direction. I don't want to say 'everybody,' but if i'm hearing correctly, a lot of other drivers are saying the same thing."

Rosberg's team boss Toto Wolff recently questioned the timing of the rule changes given the exciting start to the 2016 season under the current rules package. When asked why opinion had changed on the new rules, given several drivers had asked for faster cars, Rosberg said: "Faster cars is one thing, more downforce is another thing.

"You can get faster cars mechanically, and I think that might be where the whole thing is a bit cloudy. Yes, I also want faster cars, but I'd want it in another way – not downforce. Maybe that is the thing which is not clear."

Originally on Autosport.com