Hot Wheels

A Bridgestone mechanic measures the temperature of an F1 tyre. The 2010 regulations as released by the WMSC this week have confirmed that tyre warmers will be banned from next season onwards. The ban was due to come into force this year but was pushed back due to safety concerns, that presumably Bridgestone now believe have been sorted.

Credit: Bridgestone Corporation

27-Jun-08: Tyre Warmers Ban May Not Happen in 2009

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Today is the 27^th June 2008, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.

Autosport.com are reporting that the FIA are scrapping the anticipated ban of tyre warmers for 2009. The ban was supposed to coincide with the reintroduction of slick tyres, but teams and drivers have been raising safety concerns ever since the idea was put forward. Although Bridgestone have offered up a solution or two, no agreement can be reached. Therefore, it looks like the FIA will push back the warmers ban.

Elsewhere today, it has emerged that Bernie Ecclestone warned Max Mosley about the fact that someone was out to discredit him at least two months before the News of the World scandal broke. A different UK newspaper, The Times, is reporting that Bernie has a friend from a corporate intelligence company who was approached with an unlimited budget to bring Max’s reputation into disrepute, so he would be removed from office. Bernie’s friend told Bernie and Bernie told Max, but I guess Max didn’t think it was a problem.

That’s all for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

04-Jun-08: FIA Announce Bridge Wing Clarifications

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This is F1 Minute and today is the 4^th June 2008.

No talk of Max today, except to say that all the news about him yesterday buried an FIA announcement. Teams running the bridge wing on their nose, Honda, BMW and Toyota, for example, will need to strengthen it to stop it wobbling about as they circle the track. It’s unknown whether there was a complaint about the bridge wings or if the FIA are just adapting to the changing components.

Autosport.com is reporting that Bridgestone are set to reject a delay request from the teams, that would see the banning of tyre warmers pushed back to 2010. Bridgestone are saying they do not share the concerns of F1 teams, and in fact have said that the teams are really more concerned about not being able to run the tyres at the optimum pressure anymore, without running a significantly greater risk.

Finally, today, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene has announced that he won’t be at the Canadian GP as scheduled, after his huge crash in testing for Le Mans on Sunday. He’s broken a toe, making it difficult to walk, let alone drive.

That’s all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.