Force India driver Esteban Ocon has expressed his fear that the aerodynamic overhaul of the 2017 cars will in fact make it more difficult to overtake.

Ocon was speaking at the launch of the VJM10 at Silverstone with the first pre-season test a matter of days away.

The revamp of the regulations was introduced in a bid to restore the ‘wow’ factor to the sport, but there are fears that the changes will do little to improve the spectacle.

With the cars now considerably wider and downforce levels dramatically increased, following the car in front, and indeed executing an overtake, may well prove more challenging.

“Yes, cars will get a tow but also have bigger understeer in the corners, and you will lose more downforce,” Ocon explained.

“There is more downforce on the car, so you lose more downforce, so this is going to be harder.”

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The Frenchman, though, was keen to stress that the situation will not become clear until the new season is underway and remains optimistic.

“Let’s see. I don’t want to speak too early. I guess it’s going be harder to overtake, and more difficult. But maybe not, we’ll see.

“If you can push throughout the race and if it’s hard physically we will see people dropping out and that could make a difference.”

Ocon faces the toughest challenge of fledgling career yet as he takes on Sergio Perez, widely regarded as one of the strongest drivers in an immensely competitive midfield.