Single tyre supplier - A golden opportunity.

[angst]

With the FIA having commited F1 to a single tyre supplier from 2008 onwards, and with the position from 2007 being that of a single tyre supplier, I believe the FIA has an opportunity to restructure the regulations, and to control speeds and downforce levels through the medium of that supplier.

When the tender goes out it should contain the following caveats. 1) That the tyres supplied will be limited in the amount of grip they will produce, and that they work within quite low operating temperatures and b) that the tyres offer reasonably high slip angles.

A company such as Bridgestone will have immense amounts of data regarding the amount of downforce created by their clients, and the impact that has on the compounds used. Sauber had problems with their BS tyres in '04 because they could not create enouigh downforce to generate the heat required into the (Ferrari specific) compounds. Generally, the higher the downforce levels, the higher the optimal operating temperatures. By offering limited grip, and by keeping operating temperatures down (and any over-heating should result in rapid degradation of the tyres), the FIA can control speeds, and also the race for aerodynamic downforce.

If the speeds and downforce levels are controlled then restrictive bodywork regualtions could be relaxed - especially those that cause the greatest problems with regard to following and racing other cars. So, the front wing could be dropped - taking it out of the 'upwash' of any preceding car; the diffuser could be made less 'peaky'. Because the teams won't be scavenging every ounce of downforce they can find they can relax the use of winglets and flip-ups - all of the extra accoutrements that over-sensitise the cars to aerodynamic disturbance, and create so much of it as well.

By increasing the slip angles, those imperceptible drifts will become more visually accesible to the viewing public, giving a greater glimpse of the driving styles and skills of the drivers.

If the grip levels were kept low, the tyre company could also use that to their benefit. Without any competition to beat, what are the advertising benefits to such a company? Surely the fact that wet weather times and dry weather times are very close would show their tyres up in a very favourable light?

[Pingguest]

The tyres are one, and maybe the most important aspect of the car. In the pinnacle of motorracing there should be no rules regarding the consumption and development of tyres.

The FIA could keep the speeds well under control by banning all driver aids, bardge boards, winglets, minimizing the front and rear wing and introducing a maximum amount of fuel to use. To stimulate close racing, the FIA should allow teams to use large venturis.

[Marbot]

Tyres,being a consumable item,should not be the most important 'part' of the car.

[ASCII Man]

No, it should be the 2nd most performant part of the car, behind the engine.

I'd say minimize the aerodynamic efficiency of the cars before touching the mechanical grip.

So in that sense, I'm against a single tyre supplier as they most likely will downgrade development and put everyone on stiff, hard compounds, further reducing mechanical grip and increasing aerodynamic dependancy, resulting in poor racing and spin galore a la 1998-99

[Marbot]

Most of the performance comes from aero,hence the Gods that are Newey etc.And then this aero has to work with the tyres and the whole lot is pushed along by an engine.

STR aren't outperforming MF1 and SA because of its engine,they have better aero and better tyres.

[Dutton]

I think you mean ala 1999-2000 ASCII...

Well, martyn, presumably, by that thinking, this means that if you remove the tyre differential then it is all going to be about aero? As well all know, aero was cooked up by Satan when he had a banging hangover.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Tyres,being a consumable item,should not be the most important 'part' of the car.

In fact, it already is. Only the tyres though the ground. A control tyre would only mean that the most important aspect will become standard. In that case there is no reason not to introduce a standard chassis and engine.

And remember this one: the most beautiful seasons of Formula 1 were with a tyre war.

[Alwaysfirst]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

The tyres are one, and maybe the most important aspect of the car. In the pinnacle of motorracing there should be no rules regarding the consumption and development of tyres.

The FIA could keep the speeds well under control by banning all driver aids, bardge boards, winglets, minimizing the front and rear wing and introducing a maximum amount of fuel to use. To stimulate close racing, the FIA should allow teams to use large venturis.

Techincally, at the peak of motorracing there should be no rules about the tyres or the cars. If F1 was a true pinnacle then we would have enclosed bodywork, venturi floors, 6 wheels, stupid amounts of downforce from both sets of wings, use of exotic materials & fuels etc..........

F1 isn't the pinnacle of motorsport simply because of all the rules. It's just the top level due to all of the money in it. It's not even the fastest sport in the world. Hello IRL. I've nearly given up on F1. The 'racing' this year hasn't been good, or at least not nearly as good as everybody says.

Back on topic & rant over, for money reasons I love the idea of 1 tyre supplier. From the competition point of view I hate it with a passion & it further proves that F1 is a business rather than a sport. Ideally F1 would have 5 or 6 tyre suppliers........will never happen.

I would also agree that some of the best seasons have had a tyre war.....but so have some of the dullest. There was a tyre war in 2002 & I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat that year, except to see which driver Ferrari was going to let win.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

And remember this one: the most beautiful seasons of Formula 1 were with a tyre war.

With the protaganists mostly on the same tyre.

[Seoigh]

Isn't this just a step on the slippery slope toward a 'Spec Series'?...and is that good for the Sport?

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

With the protaganists mostly on the same tyre.

Not always. Remember the 1970's and the 1990's.