more on the tyre situation . . . they need to do something to make F1 more interesting . . . Carol * * * * Bridgestone has not yet given up on the introduction of a 'red tyre rule' in Formula One next season in a bid to spice up the racing. Although the idea to force teams to run both a hard and soft option tyre option has not been ratified by teams or the governing body, Bridgestone is still open-minded about the regulation being introduced. Such a move would not only add to excitement in races, by giving teams another variable to play with, but it would also ensure that all of Bridgestone's tyres would be used up over a weekend - cutting down on potential wasted money spent on unused rubber. The other option that is being considered is simply for the softer compound tyres to be marked with a red sidewall - so fans and commentators can easily distinguish what type of rubber each driver is using in the races. Speaking to autosport.com about the rules, Bridgestone's technical manager Hisao Suganuma said: "Everybody asks me this, but we have not decided yet. We are going to speak with the FIA. "For example if the FIA decided to mark different colours, we will consider as we are happy to cooperate. To me it is a big matter for us if it makes F1 more interesting." Suganuma warned, however, that there would be complications in producing red sidewalled tyres because of the different requirements of tyres at each track. "Taking account of the production of such tyres, we need to think," he explained. "For example, in Champ Car softer tyres have the red mark on the sidewall. "Maybe we would have some difficulty because the softer tyre on a circuit may be the harder tyre on another circuit, which means we need to have all the different specifications in double colours one with a standard sidewall and the other with a coloured sidewall. "That makes it more difficult. If we need to do that we should think about the best way to do it. "Personally in theory we can do it, but it is the discussion between the FIA and the Bridgestone teams. If F1 requires us to consider it we will cooperate."
I f Bridgestone wants to make F1 more interesting, now that they are the sole tyre (see, just for you I spelled it wrong(ly) [don't get me started]) supplier, all they have to do is make one rock-hard control tire that will last six races. All the probles of F1 come down to the fact that the cars have too much grip. Personally I'd like to see the rules outlaw downforce, but as that will never happen (wings are valuable ad space) let the single tyre supplier do the job. Sixty thousand mile tyres! That's what F1 needs! Seriousy, that's a bad idea, but SOMETHING has to be done to increase braking distances (DO NOT suggest steel brake discs) so that it is possible to overtake again. I won't be watching F1 next year, due to personal commitments, and frankly, I don't really mind that much. Between the lack of overtaking and the blatant meddling by the FIA (turning F1 into WWF1) I am ending 30 years of F1 watching with little regret.
Forget about silly Gameboy X-Box(whatever..) tactics......just eliminate testing. The uncertainties of racing in 'real life' will make F1 more interesting. Doubt it? That's how it used to be done and there was no lack of good racing. Good drivers will figure out how to make a duff car last, fast, and finish first.
If they make the tires non-directional, then they can just do a red sidewall on one side of the tire. At races where it's the softer compound, mount that sidewall towards the outside.
That was in the plans, but they were afraid Sato would somehow mess it up, kinda like everything else.
It's an interesting idea but it will likely end up in a status-quo situation where 80% of the field uses the same strategy, and in the end little changes.
