F1 tyre choice - BBC column by Gary Anderson

[campbell]

An informed read...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22543884

[Scuffers]

does not come across right, if you do the numbers in previous years AND take into account changes in qualifying rules, it's pretty obvious that the tyres are sh1t.

the cars are slower now than they ever have been for more than 20 years.

[robin]

I must admit it is painful to watch cars trying to preserve tires for more or less the whole race.

I agree with Gary Anderson that changing tires mid season is just shuffling the pack - it's bound to favour some who have made bad designs and penalize those who have near optimal designs.

I actually don't care how fast the cars go outright, but it would be nice if racing skill could be more of a factor in the result - that's never easy to achieve, though, and just fannying about with the tires won't change things in that regard.

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

the cars are slower now than they ever have been for more than 20 years.

But nor could they realistically just keep getting faster?

Surely the aero is simply too good now. Regulate that back a bit and we can all have the heady days of the early 80s once more.

Tyres is just tinkering.

[Scuffers]

the cars are slower now than they ever have been for more than 20 years.

But nor could they realistically just keep getting faster?

Surely the aero is simply too good now. Regulate that back a bit and we can all have the heady days of the early 80s once more.

Tyres is just tinkering.

why?

people keep going on about how speeds cant get faster, but realistically, we are going a LOT slower now, yes, laptimes are several seconds slower, but consider that straight line speeds are massively slower.

at this rate, GP2 cars will be faster (although they are slower with the sh*t Pirellis too)...

if you want to go back to real racing, they need tyres that they can actually lean on, not have to nurse round for 99% of the race.

there are several options, you could make the tyres narrower and harder, so they have less grip, but don't over-heat and wear out in 5 laps, so then the drivers could lean on them and slide about without destrying their tyres.

or, you could limit aero massively by having single element wings of a defined size and profile, and give them huge tyres so they have more mechanical grip with chuff all aero (if you look at other wing/slick championships, they don't suffer the same lack of racing bollocks.)

the problem with F1 is that there is not clear vision and too many people have their own agenda's, with the current leadership of the FIA I can't see this getting any better.

[robin]

but consider that straight line speeds are massively slower.

Are straight line speeds slower because the engines have less power?

Cheers,
Robin

[Dominic]

the cars are slower now than they ever have been for more than 20 years.

But nor could they realistically just keep getting faster?

Surely the aero is simply too good now. Regulate that back a bit and we can all have the heady days of the early 80s once more.

Tyres is just tinkering.

[BiggestNizzy]

Red bull are throwing the toys out the pram. they are all on the same tyres Lotus and Ferrari have done a good job of making them work. Red bull have not. Maybe if they spent more time trying to fix it and less time crying about the tyres they might get on better. If the shoe had been on the other foot I can guarantee you wouldn't hear a peep from them.

edited to add. looking after your tyres has always been a part of the sport. Button always managed his tyres better than Hamilton.

What would everyone prefer tyres that lasted the whole race and were awesome for the entire duration. probably not as it would become more of a procession.

[j2 lot]

Much as I want to see cars racing & not a tyre endurance race, it is a shame that there are changes now that will disadvantage those that made the strategies work and put RB back out in front
Another reason to do something different on a Sunday afternoon

[campbell]

[quote="Scuffers"]

or, you could limit aero massively by having single element wings of a defined size and profile, and give them huge tyres so they have more mechanical grip with chuff all aero (if you look at other wing/slick championships, they don't suffer the same lack of racing bollocks.)
/quote]

I said that. Albeit not in so many words

Anyway i will still be watching. Beats football.

[j2 lot]

Actually I will be too. Despite threatening to give up on F1 I am hooked

[Scuffers]

Red bull are throwing the toys out the pram. they are all on the same tyres Lotus and Ferrari have done a good job of making them work. Red bull have not. Maybe if they spent more time trying to fix it and less time crying about the tyres they might get on better. If the shoe had been on the other foot I can guarantee you wouldn't hear a peep from them.

edited to add. looking after your tyres has always been a part of the sport. Button always managed his tyres better than Hamilton.

What would everyone prefer tyres that lasted the whole race and were awesome for the entire duration. probably not as it would become more of a procession.

you do realise that red bull are currently leading both championships?

them must be doing a real crap job with these tyres.

[mac]

Two tyre choices - one made of Tupperware that will see a full race distance and the drive home too. Durable so not that stick or quick, the other made from fresh chewing gum that will stick to the track like the proverbial to an army blanket.

It's what they used to do in the old day IIRC, don't force both tyres on them so you can either be a hare or a tortoise and choose if it's quicker to drive fast but pit more often of go slower and pit less.

2p

Mac

[BiggestNizzy]

Red bull are throwing the toys out the pram. they are all on the same tyres Lotus and Ferrari have done a good job of making them work. Red bull have not. Maybe if they spent more time trying to fix it and less time crying about the tyres they might get on better. If the shoe had been on the other foot I can guarantee you wouldn't hear a peep from them.

edited to add. looking after your tyres has always been a part of the sport. Button always managed his tyres better than Hamilton.

What would everyone prefer tyres that lasted the whole race and were awesome for the entire duration. probably not as it would become more of a procession.

you do realise that red bull are currently leading both championships?

them must be doing a real crap job with these tyres.

That's my point I didn't hear them moaning about tyres in Malaysia or Bahrain.

[Ferg]

This maybe a silly question, but does the profile of the tyre have a massive effect on the mechanical grip. I know they specifically said that they will keep 13ing tyres, but just wondered if this was contributing to the problem?