New drivers & regulations: What’s new in the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship season

Formula 1® is back, having undergone a major shake-up for this year. New drivers and rules will ensure even more thrills in 2017. We take a look at the most important changes the season ahead.

1: Teams & drivers
Reigning Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg left Mercedes and retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2016, and now, Valtteri Bottas can take delight in his move from Williams into the Silver Arrow that’s become available due to Nico’s decision which came as a surprise to the global Formula 1 community . Jenson Button also retired at the end of last season. McLaren’s free cockpit was taken by young Stoffel Vandoorne while Lance Stroll joined Williams.

In the meantime, Nico Hülkenberg has left Force India where he’d been for a long time and hopes to hit the jackpot at Renault in 2017 alongside Jolyon Palmer. While freeing up his cockpit with the Indian squad has meant advancement for Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen switched from Renault to Haas to replace Esteban Gutierrez, who left Formula 1. Pascal Wehrlein will now line up for Sauber this year.

• Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton - Valtteri Bottas
• Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo - Max Verstappen
• Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel - Kimi Räikkönen
• Force India: Sergio Perez - Esteban Ocon
• Williams: Lance Stroll - Felipe Massa
• McLaren: Stoffel Vandoorne - Fernando Alonso
• Toro Rosso: Daniil Kvyat - Carlos Sainz
• Haas: Romain Grosjean - Kevin Magnussen
• Renault: Nico Hülkenberg - Jolyon Palmer
• Sauber: Marcus Ericsson - Pascal Wehrlein

2: The new cars – more spectacular and louder

After three years of racing under the existing technical regulations, new rules will come into effect for 2017, aiming to make Formula 1 faster, more spectacular and louder. As a result, the cars’ appearance will change dramatically this season with track width up from 1.8 to 2 meters and floor width increased from 1.4 to 1.6 meters.

The wings have also been completely revamped. The width of the front wing has increased from 1,650 to 1,800 mm and the rear wing from 750 to 950mm. The rear wings are now also set 150 mm lower. The all-up weight has also changed. In future, cars must weigh a minimum of 722 kg, excluding the weight of the tires, instead of just 702 kg as was previously the case. And the maximum weight of fuel permissible is up from 100 to 105 kg to take into account the increase in all-up weight and drag brought about by the new rules for aerodynamics.

3: Tires– wider and faster

Along with the extra grip due to the aerodynamic changes, tires are also getting a make-over for the season ahead. Still supplied by Pirelli in five different compounds, the 13-inch tires gain an extra 60mm on the front end and no less than 80mm at the rear. The cars with their huge rubber boots will remind fans of racing in the 70s and 80s and help reduce lap times on most circuits by four to five seconds.

4: More entertaining with starts in the wet
For many fans, starts in the wet add a bit of spice to the mix, but there have been hardly any in recent years, as cars trooped along behind the safety car until the track was relatively dry. That will no longer happen in 2017, because drivers will restart from standing once Bernd Mayländer has left the track in the safety car.

5: The schedule – 20 races around the world
Twenty races will make up the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar which will see ten teams on a tour around the world, starting on March 26 in Australia and ending November 26 in Abu Dhabi with stop-offs in Asia, Europe, North and South America. This should prove to be an exciting challenge once again for the logistics experts at DHL who championing the race behind the race, delivering up to 2000 tons of equipment to the starting grids around the globe.

• 26 March: FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
• 09 April: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX
• 16 April: FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX  
• 30 April:FORMULA 1 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX
• 14 May: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA PIRELLI
• 28 May: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO
• 11 June: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA
• 25 June:FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 
• 09 July: FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS VON ÖSTERREICH
• 16 July: FORMULA 1 ROLEX BRITISH GRAND PRIX
• 30 July: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2017
• 27 August: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
• 03 September: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO HEINEKEN D'ITALIA
• 17 September: FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
• 01 October: FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX
• 08 October: FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
• 22 October:FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
• 29 October: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MÉXICO
• 12 November: FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL
• 26 November: FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

6: DHL Fastest Lap Award & DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award

Thousandths of a second are crucial in Formula One. Every little detail counts. Every movement of the hand is important, whether on a hot lap in qualifying, on a long run in the race or during decisive pit stops. Celebrating speed, precision and continuous excellence throughout the season, DHL will once again present awards to the driver posting the most fastest laps and to the team with the highest number of fastest pit stops.

In recent years, the DHL Fastest Lap Award, which has been awarded since 2007, has been dominated by the Silver Arrows. Lewis Hamilton won in 2014 and 2015. Nico Rosberg secured the triple last season. The DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award goes to the fastest pit crew and has been awarded since 2015. Williams won by a big margin last season.

DHL Fastest Lap Award

DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award