03-Sep-08: Bridgestone Discuss Slick Tyres
It’s the 3rd September 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Last week saw the deadline for Bridgestone to submit their slick tyre specifications for the 2009 regulations. Autosport.com spoke to the director of motorsport for Bridgestone, Hirohide Hamashima, and found out what he thinks the tyres will be like. “We will bring two different working range compounds to each race, and there will be a time difference and also a character difference. The degradation will be different, so it may give the teams some more difficulties.”
With the grooved tyre disappearing, and nowhere for the white stripe to go, Bridgestone are also faced with the challenge of making the distinction between soft and hard tyres obvious for fans. “It will be on the sidewall design only though, with white paint or a white ring or something like that.” It doesn’t sound too different to what we have already then.
Now that the specifications have been submitted to the FIA, they will not be able to change for the entire 2009 season.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Steven Roy on Thu, 4th Sep 2008 00:04
This sounds absolutely barking to me. Before anyone has run a car to the new specification the tyre design is locked down for a year. Surely they should have at least waited until a few pre-season tests had been run. My guess is that the constructions and/or compounds will be ‘clarified’ at some point before the season starts.
Christine on Thu, 4th Sep 2008 08:17
I think the spec can be changed if ALL the teams agree, but you’re right, it’s madness. It’s like deciding what you want to eat at a restaurant six months before you go.