F1 Thread

[Aj34]

He must be fuming. Robed him of a certain victory. Did brilliantly to finish 4th

[Aj34]

Rosberg under investigation for ignoring yellow flags

[RichC]

The issue with the tires has been around all season and they've not managed to fix them with the culmination of a whole seasons worth of issues today.

[G]

I don't know, I must be watching different racing to you guys. They have been no worse in terms of deg this year then any other year since pirelli came in.

This weekend aside, it's been as per usual this season, plenty of moaning last season in the early rounds too before it settled down. The 4 stop barca race that caused so much consternation was the same number of stops it took to win it last season too. It may not be great for purists who want to let the teams race hell for leather but it is what the FIA wanted from it.

As for this race, it's clearly unacceptable and something will have to be done. Pirelli can only make changes to the construction without the teams consent if there is a clear safety concern. After his race, that concern is definitely present.

[RichC]

I've not enjoyed how much they've effected races since they've come in but today was a step beyond for me and something really needs to be done both with the level of tyre deg and to ensure the safety of races is paramount.

As Hamilton said I think in his interview it's probably going to take someone to get hurt for the FIA to take it seriously

[Camble]

I missed the start of the race and you'll never guess why haha?!

I was heading back home on the M62 and I had a blowout at 70mph to my driver's side front, that was ****ing scary the car suddenly jolting to the right.
I had to change a crumbled tyre on the smallest part of the hardshoulder with lorries and cars hurtling past about a foot behind my head as I was changing it.

I rang my Dad, he said "Do you need me to come and give you a hand?", I said "no I want you to pause the F1 buildup" LOL!


Anyway, what a fantastic race in terms of drives. The tyre situation is an absolute joke though. Surely all of the teams should agree to go for the Kevlar option, yes the FI and Lotus is setup for those so they'll have an advantage but would you rather your driver be in danger for the sake of a few tenths?

Remember a few years back when some of the teams veto'd the race because of the Bridgestones (I think), only 6 cars raced and it was the worst thing I've ever witnessed.

[G]

They were told to make fragile tyres and they can't do any testing so it's easy to see how quickly things can get dangerous as they have done now. No arguments from me about today, it wasn't good enough but the whole of F1 are responsible for the situation we find ourselves in today. Michelin or Goodyear making tyres in the same conditions to the same FIA requirements would have the same issues.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pirelli pack it in, it certainly isn't doing their brand any favours.

And let's not forget, they wanted to change their tyres but teams couldn't agree to let them.

[Chazza]

Big business though isn't it and as they said on Sky its not the sort of operation you can just turn on and off with the man power and production required to make it all work.

[G]

It's was Michelin in 05 at Indy that caused most of the field to withdraw from the race after a tyre failure.

[Camble]

It's was Michelin in 05 at Indy that caused most of the field to withdraw from the race after a tyre failure.

That was it!

But at least those were the days where you could choose your tyre provider.

[G]

That's true but like I said, F1 decided it wanted fragile tyres from a sole supplier to improve the spectacle so that's why we are where we are.

If we have more then one supplier then obviously both of those will make the most durable tyres they can. Maybe we will end up that way next season. Pirelli don't have a contract for 2014 yet.

[G]

How lucky was Alonso there,nearly 300kph and the tyre in front explodes.Scary stuff.

[Daniel 7]

G - you keep saying the same thing, but there's a balance to be drawn between durability and safety. Of course there is a way to produce stable tyres that degrade to add to the spectacle and still maintain structure - Pirelli have the balance completely wrong to the point where its endangering life.

The race you were talking about was Indy - the Bridgestone teams went out and Michelin pulled out. It might take something like that to happen again for them all to take this seriously.

Tyres should be a side story, not the dominant topic in F1.

[G]

G - you keep saying the same thing, but there's a balance to be drawn between durability and safety. Of course there is a way to produce stable tyres that degrade to add to the spectacle and still maintain structure - Pirelli have the balance completely wrong to the point where its endangering life.

The race you were talking about was Indy - the Bridgestone teams went out and Michelin pulled out. It might take something like that to happen again for them all to take this seriously.

Tyres should be a side story, not the dominant topic in F1.

Tell that to the FIA.

Like I've said,when discussing tyres what happened today is separate to whats been said all season about tyre deg.Something else occurred today that was beyond acceptable.But they are asked to provide something that they aren't allowed to test so there's a chance things can get out of hand,like today.

Regarding season long deg issues I don't see how it's Pirellis fault for providing tyres they were told to provide to the sport,thats all.I keep saying it because nobody is acknowledging the reality.

You get comments that Pirelli are ruining the sport and that other manufacturers should come back but that's missing the point entirely,they are only providing what they have been told to provide. I can't see them staying in the sport though cos its ruining their image.

The tyres are the way the sport wanted them and even when issues became apparent the sports competitors refused to allow them to be changed.

I just think Pirelli get an undeserved canning for something which is not entirely down to them.Hopefully today will be enough for them all to get together and allow the changes which are clearly needed.

[Daniel 7]

It isn't separate though, its another episode in the tyre drama.

Kerbs shouldn't have that effect - the loads unbelievable, the impact is apparent - for that amount of failures in one race suggests the problem is tyre related - its never happened before. The tyre manufacturers job is to ensure the tyre is strong and will maintain integrity under abnormal load and pressure, that's not happening. Its affecting safety and competition.

Pirelli are getting criticised because effectively, they have become the main story in F1, be it for tyres exploding like today, or for providing compounds that are lasting 3 or 4 laps - they are potentially compromising teams by involving them in testing outside of acceptable bounds. Its been a disaster.

I can see your point about degradation but there is a balance between wear, competition and safety. Their balance is wrong. When the top two drivers, the top teams and the best pundits are all united in their opinions on one issue, you can't just dismiss it. Its the indicator, it makes it obvious.