Forward of the forthcoming WMSC assembly which is able to determine whether or not tyre heaters are to be banned subsequent season the groups stay unconvinced.
Moist tyres that don’t require pre-heating have been first trialled at Monaco, and whereas Pirelli mentioned that first impressions of their efficiency appeared according to expectations, the Italian producer admitted that in actuality the calls for of the Principality couldn’t be in contrast with different tracks.
Nevertheless, it’s dry blanket-less tyres, first tried in Bahrain, which can be actually inflicting concern, and after working them within the post-Barcelona check Mercedes and Ferrari’s drivers admitted their persevering with doubt.
This week’s two day check at Silverstone has seen additional testing of the tyres, with a remaining check deliberate forward of the subsequent World Motor Sport Council assembly.
“It isn’t the ultimate check as a result of we’ve different checks deliberate for the remainder of the season,” mentioned Mario Isola, of the Silverstone trial, “however after this check the F1 Fee goes to determine if, for 2024, we ban the blankets or not.
“What we’re doing is that, after the check, we’re doing a report: an govt abstract for group principals so they do not must learn 40 or 50 pages, with a abstract of the check. Clearly we can even provide all the information to the tyre knowledgeable of the group. So it isn’t simply the abstract for them.
“After which I hope they will determine based mostly on the information. If we wish to proceed for one more yr with blankets, we are going to try this.”
Requested in regards to the knowledge already acquired and whether or not the game is prepared, Isola mentioned: “It will depend on what you imply with ‘prepared’.
“The brand new tyres, or the tyres that work with out blankets are completely different than present tyres. So you can not anticipate that you’ve got a warm-up section that’s precisely the identical because the warm-up section of the present tyres which can be heated at 70 levels C.
“We did not have the likelihood to check the tyres in all the circumstances – as a result of we do not have chilly circumstances in the intervening time, and after we examined in chilly circumstances – I keep in mind at one check with Mercedes, for instance, in Paul Ricard – it was initially of the season with the compounds that aren’t the ultimate model of the compounds. So we have been within the early phases of the event.
“The purpose is that we’ve to simply accept that, when tyres are working with out blankets, they’re completely different. We have to perceive which is the affect on race methods – as a result of clearly we do not need the present to be broken by the brand new scenario – however the path that we agreed with all of the F1 stakeholders is to scale back the affect on the atmosphere and make the game extra sustainable, and that is what we’re doing.”
At Ferrari, Frederic Vasseur is unconvinced.
“It is a bit too early as a result of we did not obtain the report,” he mentioned. I believe that within the regular circumstances that we did the check – I believe it was Bahrain – and it went fairly effectively.
“However the concern just isn’t this one: the priority is that after we go on the low monitor in power, and you should have chilly circumstances, within the excessive circumstances – for instance, Las Vegas, should you go there, you race at evening and it is 4 levels C, what may very well be the end result of this?
“I believe on 95 per cent of the circumstances, will probably be OK and they’re doing a very good job and actually I believe a few groups did the check and it went fairly effectively – however we’re not capable of anticipate what may very well be the scenario within the excessive circumstances – and this we’ve to attend for the report from Mr Pirelli.”
“Taking team-specific ideas out of it, on the finish, we would like a very good present and we have to hearken to the drivers,” mentioned Toto Wolff, “to not one however everybody and see what their opinion is on tyres with out heaters.
“I are inclined to agree with the drivers that, why are we making experiments that may doubtlessly create a security hazard,” he added. “We have seen in WEC how lengthy that may go, in Spa, so what’s it we wish to obtain?
“Is that we like not spending power on tyre heaters for moist tyres that we use that we do not use in any respect through the yr, little or no, solely.
“Threat and rewards,” he added. “My understanding in my life is that threat and reward must be effectively measured, and I do not suppose there’s a nice reward on making experiments in System 1 automobiles with drivers there for the enjoyable of it.”
That sounds an terrible lot like a no then.
