The tyres are too cold, the tyres aren’t at the optimum temperature, the tyres are overheating. Graining, degradation, blistering.
Formula One has heard all of these words and phrases at some point in 2018 describing the tyres, raising the question of whether they are too influential in racing right now?
Of course, they are always going to create an element of surprise during Formula One races with the speeds and loads they face. But this should be from time to time. The amount of discussion on tyres of late is more than I can ever remember.
They appear to be a huge factor in determining how a weekend evolves and unravels for most teams, both in qualifying and the race, and for me Formula One should be talking about other things instead.
In China and Azerbaijan, Mercedes were said to have front tyres that were too cold, while in Bahrain the rear tyres got too hot. Two-thirds of a second clear in Melbourne, two races later they were virtually the same amount behind, with tyre temperatures the most common explanation.
But in Spain, what happened in qualifying was nothing short of confusing. Of course, as a Lewis fan, I was beyond happy to see him take pole, but I didn’t really know whether he won it or others lost it.
To see Ferrari and Red Bull choose the harder, soft tyre instead of the supersoft for their final laps in Q3, only highlighted their growing impact this year.
When Pirelli were brought back to the sport in 2011 with the aim of creating high levels of degradation, I was skeptical, but I could see why it was done. Circuits like Valencia and Monaco changed from pole-to-flag monotonies, into tactical strategic classics that added a different dimension to race day.
Gone went the days of sprint racing on low fuel, to instead cars driving at half the speed at the weight of a tank, on tyres sometimes struggling to complete a ten lap stint. Suddenly there were more overtakes and racing battles than ever before.
For the teams, the huge levels of degradation could be understood. What has transpired so far in 2018 looks anything but, however. Legends like Hamilton have been made to look at times average, with Mercedes seemingly unable to find out how to make a tyre perform at its ‘optimum level.’
I remember Ted Kravitz on Sky Sports in pre-season suggesting that these cars could be the fastest ever, with myself hoping they would generate levels of grip that made blown diffusers look tame. Instead, discussion seems to be all about the rubber.
So what is the solution? How about brining back an era where teams can have a choice of tyre supplier, so that they can’t be so pivotal to a race weekend?
Bringing back Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear for example, to add to Pirelli, would be great for the sport. With more choice you would most likely see each team work their chosen tyre to their liking.
Of course, in the short-term this is unlikely to happen, with Pirelli having a contact until the end of 2019. Yet Motorsport Network’s poll in 2017 which saw 69.4% of fans preferring different tyre companies, proved that fans would like to see Pirelli joined by other manufacturers.
Whilst many say that Formula One is currently an engine-dominated sport when it should be a driver one, for me we are actually witnessing a tyre formula so far in 2018.
joeharbert 