By alley - Jul 26, 2016, 11:31 AM ET

F1: Alonso and Button excited for 'brave' 2017

World champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are hoping Formula 1's new technical direction for 2017 will address their unhappiness with its current state.

Both McLaren-Honda drivers have criticized F1 recently, with

Alonso attacking the conservative style of racing and reiterating his belief that the current cars are too slow

reiterating his belief that the current cars are too slow, while

Button suggested "this sport has a long way to go before it's good again"

after getting penalized for a radio rules infringement in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Next season F1 will adopt new technical regulations that are designed to free up engine development and produce faster cars, featuring better tyres and enhanced aerodynamics. Alonso has already suggested he may leave F1 if next year's cars do not address his concerns, and he is expecting a significant improvement.

"I think next year the cars will be a bit more challenging, a bit more exciting," he said. "The speed on the corners should go back to what we used to feel in the past – what Formula 1 should be.

"I think Friday in GP2 [in Hungary], in the first session, it was two or three seconds off the pace of Formula 1 in free practice one and that's unacceptable. The cars now are too slow. So next year we will go back to our normal Formula 1."

Teammate Button's future remains in doubt, as his McLaren contract is due to expire at the end of 2016, but he thinks every F1 driver will excited by the prospect of new, faster cars for next season.

"We've both been around a few years and remember the days of V10s and tire wars and massive amount of downforce," he said. "We've experienced so many different types of Formula 1 and the last few haven't been the best in terms of the regulation changes.

"Formula 1 as a whole understands that, and that's why we have these big changes for the future. We're not in the right place. I think next year is a good step forward.

"You could say it's brave because it's a lot of changes – mechanical grip, aerodynamic grip – but I think it's fantastic that Formula 1 is on this path. It will be more like we're used to. We'll get out of the cars with a bigger grin on our faces and I think the sport will grow because of that."

Button also reckons the racing spectacle will not be unduly affected by large increases in aerodynamic performance.

"I don't think overtaking is going to be more of an issue," he added. "Because of the type of aerodynamics we have on the cars next year it shouldn't be affecting the front wings as much as people might expect."

Originally on Autosport.com