Source: Pirelli Media

F1 News

Teams say no tyre blankets could be good for F1

Teams say no tyre blankets could be good for F1

20-07-2018 16:01
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Jake Williams-Smith

No tyre blankets and 18-inch wheels are on the agenda for F1 for 2021. Announced this morning the new rules will be implemented in 2021 alongside the regulation shake-up and some of the teams think it could be a positive change for the sport.

In Friday's team personnel press conference, the question about whether or not the changes would be a good thing for the sport surprised all of those present, with Renault's Bob Bell saying he didn't actually know about the rule change announcement.

After the initial shock, they did all agree however that they could be a step in the right direction in terms of improving the show.

"I’m sure that a set of tyre requirements from the supplier can be agreed upon that will deliver tyres that will be capable of being operated safely, without blankets," said Bell. "Plenty of other racing series do it so I don’t see any reason why we can’t in Formula 1.

"If those specifications for the tyre allow us to get around some of the limitations that we face in operating the tyres at the minute, pressures, cambers, all those things, and make that task less onerous on the teams and produce more consistent performance throughout the life of the tyres, then I think that’s all to the good, and I’m sure that is possible to do."

Williams' Paddy Lowe agreed, adding that a new challenge could be a positive thing.

"I quite like the spectacle of a grid with all the equipment, including tyre blankets. I think that’s part of the impression that Formula 1 gives of being a very technical sport, the pinnacle of motor racing, so I would miss it from that point of view.

"But on the other hand, if you’re reflecting on what Bob says, if it drives us towards tyres that have a much wider window to operate in, that could be a good thing.

"I know at the same time they are talking about moving qualifying perhaps to formats where there are less laps, more criticality around doing single laps and again, if that’s around tyres that aren’t prepared with blankets that would drive us towards tyres with a wider window which I think would be a good thing for the sport."