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I wonder if this is, at least in part, due to using a synthetic material rather than natural rubber to make the tyres. What did Bridgestone use?
Tires have been made mostly from synthetic rubber for a loooong time.
The problem with the tires isn't that they're degrading quickly, the problem is the way they degrade. Typically those marbles instead of being strewn about the side of the racing line would have rubbered in the racing line itself. So what we're getting instead of the distinct black racing line forming during the weekend we're accustomed to seeing, is a clean line forming in the middle of black marbles. So the penalty is two fold... not only do you not get the increased grip from the rubbering effect, you not get a treacherous off line section to the track.
Go into an art supply store and look around at the different types of erasers they've got. It's bewildering the things you can do with rubber. So I'm sure they could do whatever they with with the characteristics of the tires, but it's likely that it's too late to do anything about it this year.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
so we don't know at this point what they're changing?
We do, and it's another half-arsed half-brained change once more.
They are going to add a stripe again, but to ensure that it doesn't solve the problem, they are going to make it a very thin one.
Also they will keep bringing silver and yellow to the same GP, so even if you do manage to see the stripe on the first lap(afterward it will either be worn off(very close/on the track-surface), or covered in rubber/dust) you definately will not be able to tell if it was either yellow or silver.
I hope the commentators will be commenting on all the pitstops, because honestly that will be the only moment at which they/we can be surtain.
Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
Not sure you can dismiss that in this way: they changed PLANS after the poor start, so from then on it was planned to have 4 stops as part of an aggressive strategy (and it worked quite well due to MW doing a great job). You made it almost sound as if they had to involuntarily schedule a 4th stop because of the poor start - but that was their choice, i.e., their plan, not comparable to LH/FA with the coming together causing even worse tire performance.
At least Sepang completely blew away the silly idea that some teams would actually "plan" to do 4 stops
Of the 17 cars that finished:-
5 cars did 2 stops (interesting so many could manage on only 3 sets of tyres at such a harsh track in a dry race)
9 cars did 3 stops
Alonso and Hamilton changed tyres after their coming together late in the race (they were scheduled for 3 stops)
Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
Not sure you can dismiss that in this way: they changed PLANS after the poor start, so from then on it was planned to have 4 stops as part of an aggressive strategy (and it worked quite well due to MW doing a great job). You made it almost sound as if they had to involuntarily schedule a 4th stop because of the poor start - but that was their choice, i.e., their plan, not comparable to LH/FA with the coming together causing even worse tire performance.
After Webber had a poor start his plan changed from a 3 stop to a 4 stop. This is no different to the Hamilton/Alonso in that their initial 3 stop strategy changed to a 4 stop after they connected. The time isn't relevant, all the mentioned drivers changed strategies after an incident. The difference I think you are pointing out is that Mark didn't HAVE to do a 4 stop, neither did Hamilton to be fair. The point is that had things gone to the initial plan, no drivers would have been or needed to be on a 4 stop strategy for tyres.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
Not sure you can dismiss that in this way: they changed PLANS after the poor start, so from then on it was planned to have 4 stops as part of an aggressive strategy (and it worked quite well due to MW doing a great job). You made it almost sound as if they had to involuntarily schedule a 4th stop because of the poor start - but that was their choice, i.e., their plan, not comparable to LH/FA with the coming together causing even worse tire performance.
At least Sepang completely blew away the silly idea that some teams would actually "plan" to do 4 stops
Of the 17 cars that finished:-
5 cars did 2 stops (interesting so many could manage on only 3 sets of tyres at such a harsh track in a dry race)
9 cars did 3 stops
Alonso and Hamilton changed tyres after their coming together late in the race (they were scheduled for 3 stops)
Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
The argument overall was that 4 stops can happen in a race to make a strategy work. And it was 100% true. Malaysia was just the second race and it was clearly used to get Webber back in the race, and maybe to keep Lewis in the race.
At least Sepang completely blew away the silly idea that some teams would actually "plan" to do 4 stops
Of the 17 cars that finished:-
5 cars did 2 stops (interesting so many could manage on only 3 sets of tyres at such a harsh track in a dry race)
9 cars did 3 stops
Alonso and Hamilton changed tyres after their coming together late in the race (they were scheduled for 3 stops)
Webber had one additional change added due to his really bad start from his KERS failing (he also had 3 stops planned)
The argument overall was that 4 stops can happen in a race to make a strategy work. And it was 100% true. Malaysia was just the second race and it was clearly used to get Webber back in the race, and maybe to keep Lewis in the race.
I don't know who was arguing that 4 stops couldn't happen. I simply maintained that no-one would start a race planning 4 stops - makes no sense. I actually said 4 stops could happen, from bad driving or bad luck, and I think that exactly covers what happened at Sepang - bad luck for Webbo, Nando and Lewis.
I mean 8 stops "could" happen, but that also wouldn't be planned before the race starts.
I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the debut of the super softs.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the debut of the super softs.
You evil, evil man you!
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