Some Mark Webber comments + motorsport analysis that got me thinking:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/webbe ... go-871629/
By and large I'm very positive about the 2017 changes and really looking forward to seeing the cars, but the above highlights to me that too much was done at once.
The main thing that is positive about the changes are the (hopefully more durable tyres) that will also increase mechanical grip + the look of the cars. I'd suggest that changes should have been limited to the tyre changes and reprofiled wings.
That would have solved the problems highlighted in the article - I.e. There's nothing wrong with the qualifying times but race pace is so poor because drivers cannot push; of course refuelling is a major differentiator also but the pace increase from tyres alone- and more importantly the ability to use that pace lap after lap - would probably be enough to satisfy and would probably see lap records fall in final stints.
Equally, without a significant increase in downforce, we would have increased the proportion of mechanical vs aero grip, thereby aiding overtaking and likely allowing a gradual reduction in use of DRS.
It would also allow isolated analysis of changes to pinpoint what did and didn't work well - something that will be muddied in reality.