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[racechick]

Just a few observations about the recent tyre tests.

Massa topped the times, beating Vettel into second place and Alonso into 3rd. He's always said the tyres dont suit his driving so this could bode well for next year.

The teams are getting important feedback as to how the tyres are looking to behave in order to make design changes to next seasons car. Extracting the most from the tyres will be paramount. So why have McLaren not used their regular drivers? Are they missing a trick here?

[bud]

I don't think anyones paying too much attention to this initial test, even the teams as the tyres are going to change at the next test. This was more for pirelli I feel.

[vaptin]

Redbull used Vettel for both tests, unless Webber said he didn't want to do it, it seems like a clear case of favouring Vettel again to me? Opinions?

Mclaren, unusual to me, they told their drivers there was no point I think, maybe their just keen to give Paffet the track time, or weren't taking the test seriously so just let him drive.

[racechick]

I dont think its favouring one driver over the other because the tyres will change before proper testing in Feb and I doubt a driver advantage will be gained. But the drivers will be able to give feedback on the characteristics which will affect car development.Seems strange McLaren arent running one or both regular drivers.

[nish2280]

Not only will the tires change but so will the cars. Maybe the teams want their drivers on the 2011 spec cars with 2011 spec tires.

[Denthúl]

Not only will the tires change but so will the cars. Maybe the teams want their drivers on the 2011 spec cars with 2011 spec tires.

Could be.

I think McLaren are obviously feeling confident that their test drivers will be able to give them enough feedback on the tyres in order to help with the development of the new car that they can allow their race drivers to rest. By contrast, Mercedes might feel that it would be good to get their current race drivers to comment on how the current Pirelli rubber reacts with the current car, which had some tyre problems (for Schumacher, at least), and whether or not the initial tests show any kind of improvement.

At the end of the day, if cars and rubber are going to change significantly before the start of next year, then the data gathered from this test could prove to be of little use. As could the knowledge gained by Heidfeld, de la Rosa and Grosjean.

[CarBore]

I wonder if we are going to see an inverse effect for some drivers. Massa and Schuey seems to be performing better relative to the other drivers compared to how they did on Bridgestones, but I'm wondering if the can't work the tyres excuse is going to come out from a different driver next year

[racechick]

I wonder if we are going to see an inverse effect for some drivers. Massa and Schuey seems to be performing better relative to the other drivers compared to how they did on Bridgestones, but I'm wondering if the can't work the tyres excuse is going to come out from a different driver next year

I think the more agressive drivers who like a positive front end and they'll deal with the rear (dont bother DD!) will benefit. Shuey, Massa, hamilton. Dunno, who else has that style?? The smoother driver I think will suffer, so possibley Button, Rosberg?

[Robert12010]

i was surprised that mclaren took a ''blind alley'' so to speak by using gary paffett and oliver turvey, but its good that they got a go you know we all say why not given the young ones a chance, but just in this case that paffett isnt that young but a good test driver and im sure that with the right equipment oliver can become a mclaren race driver in the future

[Fact Man]

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has conceded that the Italian tyre-supplier has a dual task on its hands as it prepares to return to F1 for the first time in precisely two decades next season – that of spicing up the spectacle in the top flight whilst producing a competent product into the bargain.

Pirelli will grace the grid for the first time since 1991 in the curtain-raising Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir next March, but testing has already begun, with a generally positive and constructive outlook following a two-day session with all twelve teams in Abu Dhabi last week.

Hembery has revealed that drivers and teams alike were on the whole ‘very enthusiastic’ about the product, and dismissed as ‘pointless’ comparisons between Pirelli and outgoing supplier Bridgestone, with reports that the Milan-based marque’s rubber is around two seconds-a-lap slower than that of its predecessor at present. There are also concerns that whilst the soft compound-tyre wore well at Yas Marina, the harder version inexplicably deteriorated more quickly.

As to the delicate balancing-act that must be struck between durability and entertainment – with the events of Montreal this year, when Bridgestone’s tyres were so aggressively competitive as to fall apart on the abrasive track surface, providing great drama for fans but doing little for the Japanese manufacturer’s reputation – the Englishman acknowledged that the objective is to arrive at the best of both worlds.

“We have been asked to produce tyres to improve the show,” he told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, “but if we are criticised by the teams or the drivers, yes, we will be able to bring to the next race very durable tyres.”

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26112010/ ... -show.html

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Will 2011 be an even more exciting year than 2010? I really hope so.

[vaptin]

I hope the teams don't complain, its a lot more interesting with tyres that are actually falling of. Although I think a lot of it is actually linked to overtaking, in Canada if someone with better tyres was behind you they could actually get past, so the tyres were making the difference, in Abu Dhabi it didn't matter.

[Diplomatic Immunity]

from the pics I've seen those damn Pirelli's are graining like crazy...hopefully by the time temps pick up in the spring the tyres will be up to snuff

If the 2011 season started today (assume today was July 1)...not sure if the Pirelli's would hold up

Overall, they are on pace to make a great return...glad to see them back in Formula 1!