Former team boss Ross Brawn thinks that Mercedes will still be a leading force in Formula 1 next year.

Some believe that, with the radically different 2017 rules coming in and Red Bull and Ferrari pushing hard to improve, next year could finally see Mercedes's three-year championship winning streak end.

Yet Brawn, who headed the Brackley team until the end of 2013, thinks that their position of dominance this year is still the perfect launching pad for more domination next season.

"Mercedes will have been pulling resource off this year's programme onto next year very early, once they saw where they were with the car," he told the FIA's in-house magazine Auto.

"If I was there, and I'm sure they've carried on a similar philosophy, I'd be saying 'Right, we've got a strong car, we can only beat ourselves, let's get everyone onto next year's programme'. I don't know how many other teams could do that."

However, the 2017 regulations are finally tipping the balance back in the direction of aerodynamics, with the last three years regarded by many as having been dominated by Mercedes amid the 'engine formula' era.

However, Brawn insisted: "Success breeds success. Mercedes will be strong next year, despite the greater emphasis on chassis."

The 2017 calendar is due to kick off with the Australian Grand Prix in March.