bilbo
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 posted on 30/3/09 at 12:47 PM |
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F1 tyre rules
OK, after many years of staying away from F1 due to various reasons I wont bore you with (I was once a huge fan, but got very disgruntled), I've
decided to watch and follow it again this year.
But I'm a bit confused by some of the rules these days.
What's going on with the tyres? Why were they having to go out on different compounds at different points of the race? All seemed rather silly
and potentially very dangerous? The reasons were not really explained on the commentary (or I missed it?), and google doesn't seem to come up
with anything?
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YQUSTA
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 12:53 PM |
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I believe they have to use both types of tyre's during the race soft and hard.
they can use them for as long/short as they like but must use both types
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bilbo
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 12:56 PM |
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Thanks for the quick reply
But, why this rule? What are the reasonings behind it? Seems not to make much sense to me?
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BenB
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 12:59 PM |
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They did the same last year but the difference between the compounds wasn't that great so there wasn't a marked difference. Presumably the
reason they've gone two stages between the obligatory tyres is to make more overtaking IE so each car will be (at some stage) faster than the
other cars due to tyre choice alone.
The trouble with the super softs is they're great for 12 laps then go off very quickly so it makes a splash + dash stop an obligatory part of
the "tactics".
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vinny1275
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:03 PM |
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It's a rule that's been in for a few years now - it's another cost-cutting thing I think. There was a time when the tyre
manufacturers would bring several compounds to a race (and possibly different compounds for different teams) - now teams have a set number of tyres
for each driver, and Bridgestone have 2 declared compounds for all the teams. There are green stripes on the "option" tyre so you can tell
the difference. The other thing it does is prevents drivers from using all of their option set during qualifying, as they have to keep at least one
set for the race.
What's changed this year is that the compounds are 2 steps apart, rather than 1 last year, so the difference between them is greater - hence why
the Ferraris went slower after about 6 laps on the soft tyre. Having said that, Jenson, Lewis and Kubica didn't seem to have too much of a
problem with them....
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bilbo
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:04 PM |
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Ah, OK. I see what they are doing, but I don't think I agree - would seem to force more pit stops and therefore more 'pit'
overtaking rather than on track
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bilbo
Ah, OK. I see what they are doing, but I don't think I agree - would seem to force more pit stops and therefore more 'pit'
overtaking rather than on track
You could see it that way but it could also work that car one say could be on the better tyre closing up to car two on the not so good tyre. This
would encourage more overtaking and some close battles
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smart51
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:35 PM |
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Every race the commentary says something like "Driver A has still to use the crap tyres whereas driver B has already used them and can stay on
the good tyres for the rest of the race".
I can't think of a good reason why teams are forced to use unsuitable tyres. Make all the tyre types available to all the teams and let them
choose the good ones for the conditions.
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vinny1275
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by smart51
Every race the commentary says something like "Driver A has still to use the crap tyres whereas driver B has already used them and can stay on
the good tyres for the rest of the race".
I can't think of a good reason why teams are forced to use unsuitable tyres. Make all the tyre types available to all the teams and let them
choose the good ones for the conditions.
The tyres aren't unsuitable (and all teams now get exactly the same compounds), they're just less suitable. This was especially so in Oz
on Sunday, as the track was cooler than predicted, so the option tyres were running outside their best temperature range...
Again, all the teams know they'll have to use 2 types of tyre in each race, yet some are better than others at designing their car to get the
best out of both compounds (and they normally get to test the proposed compounds in winter testing, so they have empirical data to go on).
I think it makes an interesting bit of strategy as well - using the right tyres at the right time can gain you time as easily as using the wrong ones
will lose you time. that's why I'm slightly disappointed about the fuel loads being published after quali - it made stuff more interesting
not knowing sometimes, wondering if Button qualified on pole with 5 or 25 laps of fuel...
I'm far too geeky about this, aren't I......
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bilbo
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 01:49 PM |
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It introduces a bit of artificial jeopardy and ramdomness which, to me, doesn't fit with what this or any sport is all about. It should just be
about the drivers, the cars and the pit crews. It's a bit like getting runners in athletics to choose a lap of the track they have to do
hopping, with one arm tied behind their back  . Yes, you then get overtaking, but is it interesting to watch someone on two legs overtaking someone
with one?
Oh dear, this sport is starting to irritate me again already
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MK chippy
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 02:21 PM |
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I quite like the new rules although i think there is a bit to much of a difference between the two tyre compounds. Great start to the season. (not
just saying that because of who won). Nice to see different cars at the front of the grid and teams such as Ferrari and mclaren really having to work
hard to get up to speed. Will be interesting to see how they change during the season. Looking forward to see how the season pans out!
Dave
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Mix
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 03:35 PM |
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Hi
As I understand it the rule to use both compounds in a race reduces the expense. Previously tyre producers would have to supply enough tyres of each
compound to complete the weekends event. Now they have only to supply a fifty fifty mix, (at least thats true for race day).
Regards Mick
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RichieW
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 04:19 PM |
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I thought it had something to do with prreventing tyre producers favouring certain manufacturers.
OTTOMH I think a few years ago Bridgestone produced tyres which were used by Ferrari and a few other small teams who didn't really matter. It
seemed pretty much like a customer tyre optimised for Ferrari at the time so they had a lot of input and got a lot of benefit from it.
If a team has to use two different types of compound it prevents them getting too cosy with manufacturers over specs which suit them best as they have
to cope with two differing types.
I could be talking rubbish but that's the impression I got at the time.
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Daimo_45
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| posted on 30/3/09 at 06:39 PM |
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I love the way they have to invent new rules to try and make something boring more exciting!
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