FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

Discuss the sport you love with other motorsport fans

Formula One related discussion.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#40617
The Honda Formula One team has backed next year's proposed banning of tyre warming blankets.

Active race and test drivers have recently flagged the ban, set to coincide with the return of slick tyres in 2009, as a safety concern after the initial development compounds offered by Bridgestone proved difficult to get up to speed on the test tracks.

But Honda's engineering chief Steve Clark played down the issue at the end of the four-day group test this week at Barcelona.

"Running here in warmer conditions, we had no issues with warming the tyres up without blankets," he said.

"We are looking forward to the challenge of running the cars next year without tyre warmers and reduced downforce. It should be interesting," he added.



Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:
User avatar
By texasmr2
#40621
I think slick's and tire warmer's go hand in hand. Why would a lower grid team like Honda be against something that could work in their favor? :?
User avatar
By McLaren Fan
#40634
Tyre warmers should stay.
User avatar
By bud
#40637


Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:


the pit stops would all even out though, slower teams wouldnt gain any advantage from this rule.
Tyre warmers havent been around for ever, and its not like EVERY racing category uses them.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#40643


Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:


the pit stops would all even out though, slower teams wouldnt gain any advantage from this rule.
Tyre warmers havent been around for ever, and its not like EVERY racing category uses them.



Not if you don't make it into q3, so you have the option to run just one pitstop vs. the 2 or 3 of the front teams. Every time a top team comes out of the pits with cold tires it costs them an additional 10 seconds per lap (according to some) and that's where Honda could benefit and pass said team.
User avatar
By bud
#40651


Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:


the pit stops would all even out though, slower teams wouldnt gain any advantage from this rule.
Tyre warmers havent been around for ever, and its not like EVERY racing category uses them.



Not if you don't make it into q3, so you have the option to run just one pitstop vs. the 2 or 3 of the front teams. Every time a top team comes out of the pits with cold tires it costs them an additional 10 seconds per lap (according to some) and that's where Honda could benefit and pass said team.


thats balony or tuna talk :lol: that was in the winter tests the tyres have come along way since then in the latest compound at Barcelona tests. no doubt in my mind that its not that big of a gap right now and come next year Bridgestone would have tweaked their compounds even more to lower the gap again.
and as ive said other racing series that dont use tyre blankets done have any issues.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#40656


Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:


the pit stops would all even out though, slower teams wouldnt gain any advantage from this rule.
Tyre warmers havent been around for ever, and its not like EVERY racing category uses them.



Not if you don't make it into q3, so you have the option to run just one pitstop vs. the 2 or 3 of the front teams. Every time a top team comes out of the pits with cold tires it costs them an additional 10 seconds per lap (according to some) and that's where Honda could benefit and pass said team.


thats balony or tuna talk :lol: that was in the winter tests the tyres have come along way since then in the latest compound at Barcelona tests. no doubt in my mind that its not that big of a gap right now and come next year Bridgestone would have tweaked their compounds even more to lower the gap again.
and as ive said other racing series that dont use tyre blankets done have any issues.



You're not seriously comparing F1 with other series, do you?
User avatar
By bud
#40658
cold tyre vs race temp tyre will have the same disadvantages regardless of series.

F1 isnt immune to the physics of motorsports is it?
User avatar
By Denthúl
#40660
If you think about it, it's another way of aiding the driver. By taking away tyre warmers, they have to warm the tyres up on their own, which creates a bigger challenge for them. For anyone who is going to bring up safety, you could argue the same about any of the driver aids that have been removed this season. If you agree with those being banned, then I see no reason why you should oppose the banning of tyre warmers.
User avatar
By madbrad
#40662
what's the worst that can happen? You spin into the gravel. 99.9% of offs carry no danger to anyone. So there might be more offs than there are now. Yes, there's the chance that an off can injure or kill you but I see no more probability there than other dangers of Motorsport.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#40666
cold tyre vs race temp tyre will have the same disadvantages regardless of series.

F1 isnt immune to the physics of motorsports is it?


No, but it goes further to the extremes than other series. Aerodynamics being one big difference (and it's still gonna be a major part even after the winglets are banned). If you suddenly have sub-par tire performance, curbs could loom and aero could suffer, driver performance could aggravate the situation and you end up with a big clash, possibly taking out other drivers or even injuring them.
I'm all for exciting racing, but we will be ruing these decisions when we have a fatality during a race weekend.
User avatar
By Denthúl
#40670
cold tyre vs race temp tyre will have the same disadvantages regardless of series.

F1 isnt immune to the physics of motorsports is it?


No, but it goes further to the extremes than other series. Aerodynamics being one big difference (and it's still gonna be a major part even after the winglets are banned). If you suddenly have sub-par tire performance, curbs could loom and aero could suffer, driver performance could aggravate the situation and you end up with a big clash, possibly taking out other drivers or even injuring them.
I'm all for exciting racing, but we will be ruing these decisions when we have a fatality during a race weekend.


Cars would be designed with colder starting temperatures for tyres. You could argue that the ban on winglets may make it harder for some teams to develop a car that has enough grip. I'm pretty sure that if you took all the winglets off the F1.08 it would be difficult, perhaps even dangerous, to drive at close to two hundred miles an hour. And again with traction control and engine braking.

No matter how you look at it, a large percentage of things that could be banned can be argued as having an impact on safety. And yet, things are still banned. Look at all the whining about the lack of TC and engine braking. It's not been anywhere near as bad as some drivers made out, DC in particular.

I'm all for things being safe, but removing tyre warmers will have nowhere near the impact of, say, making someone drive with three wheels. A good driver would cope easily. The first few laps would be a little slower and more cautious as they warmed up their tyres, but after that things would be normal. And remember, F1 drivers are supposed to be the best that there are ;)
User avatar
By 7UpJordan
#40675
Tyre warmers were first brought into F1 in the mid 80's by Lotus if I remember rightly. It would be foolish to get rid of them.
User avatar
By darwin dali
#40680


The first few laps would be a little slower and more cautious as they warmed up their tyres, but after that things would be normal. And remember, F1 drivers are supposed to be the best that there are ;)


That's ONE of the concerns: the differential speed between a driver on fumes lapping at track record speed and some back marker coming out of the pits with a full tank and cold tires. They will drive even slower with cold tires (as opposed to heated ones until now).
User avatar
By Jensonb
#40681
Well, yes, Honda are slow no matter what, so they won't care whether their tires are cold. On the contrary, they might find it useful because that's the only time they can even think of passing a car of the sharp end of the grid, when such a car comes out of the pits with cold tires :roll::twisted::lol:

Sir, this time next year I shall waste no time in feeding you your words on a silver platter :P

Anyway, joking aside, I could go either way on this. On the one hand, blankets mean the cars are up to speed and thus more exciting for us spectators sooner, on the other hand removing them would introduce a greater tactical tyre management duty for the driver.

See our F1 related articles too!