Tyres - Is it really more exciting?

[Jersey Tom]

Easier said than done.

[SiLo]

Hi Everyone,

Tyre is a fundamental part of a car whether it be racing or just your daily drive. It is one of the crucial part of the car for safety and control.

To me, a good tyre will be one that is fast and super grippy. If endurance is to be minimised for the sack for show, at least make sure that the tyres are super fast before the tyre life runs out. I want to see lap records being broken and not marbles hitting driver's helm like bullets. To me, this is a real safety issue.

I think Pirelli's aim should be making their tyres fast and safe. Not just make their tyres "for a exciting show".

Very good point there Jamsbong, I think this is the main crux of the issue. The drop off is too soon but I think the amount it drops off is right. Some tyres lasting less than ten laps is just silly.

[CyleB]

Will someone tell Perez there is a drop off i dont think he knows that

1 stop Australia

[Tamburello]

Hi Everyone,

Tyre is a fundamental part of a car whether it be racing or just your daily drive. It is one of the crucial part of the car for safety and control.

To me, a good tyre will be one that is fast and super grippy. If endurance is to be minimised for the sack for show, at least make sure that the tyres are super fast before the tyre life runs out. I want to see lap records being broken and not marbles hitting driver's helm like bullets. To me, this is a real safety issue.

I think Pirelli's aim should be making their tyres fast and safe. Not just make their tyres "for a exciting show".

The problem is one of cost, obviously. You cannot have super sticky and fast and short lived at the cost that Pirelli want to invest.

[piast9]

So what do you say after today's GP? In my opinion China GP was one of the most exciting ever, plenty of action and astonishing result from Webber.

I think that this year in Monaco we may witness the repetition of something like Senna - Mansell battle from the 1992. No overtaking happened then but yes, it was exciting.

[Giblet]

I think all personal opinons aside, there is definitely a lot more going on in the second half/last third of the race that is largely unpredictable compared to the the last decade or so.

[Vasco]

I just think the current hard tyre is not good enough for anything...its slower compared to the softs and it does not provide the extra durability required so we might see teams push the softs further or make more stops with the softs and only use the hard tyres for like 5 laps before the end.

[djos]

That was an epic Grand Prix imo with fantastic drives from Hamilton and particularly from Webber, it was really great stuff that we would have never seen last year!!!

Great job Pirelli !!! =D>

[raymondu999]

To imagine - if Hamilton hadn't gotten that car repaired in time, we would've had an RBR 1-2, amazingly. 2nd place from 18th would have been candidate of drive for the year.

[ESPImperium]

I just think the current hard tyre is not good enough for anything...its slower compared to the softs and it does not provide the extra durability required so we might see teams push the softs further or make more stops with the softs and only use the hard tyres for like 5 laps before the end.

For the front teams, yes, but the inverse is now true for the slower teams or out of position cars from Webber's strategy now.

I can see 3 stoppers being more the norm now, with the occasional 2 stopper thrown in for good measure.

I can see drivers trying what hamilton did with his quali strategy, almost making Q3 like a one lap shootout (i think it should be a one lap shootout anyways TBH) to save a set of options for the race. I can see the teams at the sharp end making quali like this:

Q1: Run 1 - NEW Primes, 3/4 Laps
Q2: Run 1 - Q1 Primes, 3/4 Laps
Q2: Run 2 - NEW Primes, 3 Laps (Optional)
Q3: Run 1 - NEW Options, 3 Laps
Q3: Run 2 - NEW Primes, 3 Laps (Optional)

This leaves drivers doing roughly 15 to 17 laps. But i can see tweaks to the Quali regs if this happens, as quali should be part of the weekend, and mould the race.

I d like to see Q1 and Q2 drivers having to to a minimum number of laps with Q3 being a 2005 style single run shootout with the slowest going first, meaning that drivers will have to use up a set of options to get as high up the order in order to get as good as good a quali position as possible.

[Tamburello]

To imagine - if Hamilton hadn't gotten that car repaired in time, we would've had an RBR 1-2, amazingly. 2nd place from 18th would have been candidate of drive for the year.

I think it's still a candidate now. He must have been flat out in every stint!

[raymondu999]

Aye. Come to think of it it looks like maybe yesterday Vettel should've qualified on them primes in Q3

[Tamburello]

Would have at least forced him into a three stopper!

[piast9]

I just think the current hard tyre is not good enough for anything...

You are right. I put Webber's lap times on the graph and it showed that his hard tyres from first stint gave up after about 10 laps... If so, the prime tyres stint is just the necessary evil forced by the rules, not a strategy.

Nevertheless the show is great.

[Giblet]

The air was only 16 degrees today, so the hard tire might be better elsewhere when the track and air temperature are higher.