Pirelli seeks input from Formula 1 teams on ideas for 2012 tyres Quite a few interesting points in this news, such as: - Changing Q3 tyre rules (often talked about on here) - Qualifying tyres (In today's climate, I doubt it) - Getting a new Pirelli test car (and other idea's) So I thought I'd ask the Not606 Think tank, what would you like to see from Pirelli and its tyres next year and beyond?
There can be no doubt that the recipe has spiced up the menu, and to some extent my fears at the start of the season have been put to rest. However, I still feel that they should provide a tyre which is capable of half race distance, and that the teams be free to choose two compounds from an available three! - Even if every team chooses the same two compounds, we can be no worse off than at present, but the chances are that some teams will try very different strategies. Of course, it is likely that they will continue to produce tyres with a short life-expectancy but it is a shame that they can't do this without producing such a marbled mess 'off-line'. So, my message is simple: give more choice to the drivers.
Pirelli are a great addition, not only have they made good racing, but they actually care about racing and the future of it. Unlike Bridgestone who wanted to make longer lasting tyres as the years went on. Good to see Pirelli trying to connect with teams, but i can sense the teams are saying, everything is fine Hembery, just leave us alone.
Pirelli seem worried that if they stand still the teams will work out optimum strategies for the tyres and then the exciting edge will be lost. I'm happy that they are always looking to evolve, but only if 3+ stops are occasional occurrences.
First: Get rid of that ridiculous rule stating the top ten must start on the tyres they qualified on, it should be the same for all 24 drivers. Second: I agree with Cosi about letting teams pick their own compounds, I'd like to see Pirelli offering six compounds though. Third: Sort out the inters and wets so we get less safety car and red flag action when it rains. Fourth: Bring in a few (I'd say three) in season tests, like the Abu Dhabi one at the end of last year. Pirelli are complaining that the Toyota they use is outdated, so just have a few test days mid season.
Teams should be allowed to use any of the 4 compounds. They should have a set number of sets they can use but of any type (ie. not 3 of each). Teams should start Saturday with 6 sets. During Quali: For both Q2 and Q3 they should have the option to swap a used set for a new set. The 107% rule should be extended so that in Q2 and Q3 every car must run at least 2 laps within 107% of the leader of that session or 102% of their time in the previous quali session, they also need to run at least one lap on brand new tyres or face a 5 place grid drop (for either) this will prevent drivers sitting out or mailing in performances to save the extra tyres. Cars should have to start on the same compound that they qualified on but not the exact same set. Two compounds must be used in the race
Giving the teams a extra soft/supersoft tyre to use in Q3. And they can start on what tyre they like regardless of where they qualified.
open tyres is the way forward, and yes, reshod on any tyres at start of GP regardless of position. I think that would be the fairest way and provide the best racing, it would also probably work out cheaper too, as they will all have the optimum set ups (ie Button would stick on a super hard and not bther pitting at all, and Hamilton could rag the arse out of his). If they burn up tyres they still have to balance up the books to fit inside the financial cap (as if mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren do anyway)
I like cosicaves idea of teams being able to choose their own 2 compunds for a grand prix. The only risk of that is teams might all choose tyres that last a very long time defeating the idea of the pirelli's I'd like the teams to have an extra allocation of tyres for P1 - P3. I also like the idea of testing/developing the Pirrelis with current cars, ie they could do monday testing after the race say 4 or 5 times a year. They could also say that only test drivers and non-F1 race drivers could do the monday testing - a bit of a relief on the lack of development for rookies.
The problem with most of these solutions is that they would take tyre usage in the opposite direction to that in which the FIA wants F1 to head. Tyre allocations have been reduced from fourteen sets per weekend last season to just eleven this year. I like cosi's idea of a super hard tyre, of which each driver could use one on Friday, replacing one of the prime sets, and one for the rest of the weekend, replacing one of the Saturday/Sunday sets of primes. My fear is around Pirelli's intention for 2012, which is to increase durability all round. Overall, my preference would be to keep them as marginal as they are now. I'd like three or four stops to be the norm, two or five stops to be remarkable, and one stop to be exceptional.
I would like it if teams could choose what two compounds they use for a race, I also would like it if there was a greater difference between the compounds, so the difference in lap time is compensated by better durability. I also think they should develop a rule that enforces drivers to do a hot lap in Q3 and not just sit out of it and save their tyres. As for testing I would like Fridays to be open all day for practice/testing but the race drivers are only allowed three hours each and the team can allocate them however they want. The rest of the time the team's test/reserve driver(s) are used which will give them time in the car and during this time they can use tyres that Pirelli want testing and data on. I know this would interfere with support races but I do not care.
This is essentially what I was getting at. Here's the logic: Excitement is the result of unpredictability. Unpredictability is more likely when there are more possibilities. More possibilities are the direct result of greater choice.
