2009: The long awaited return of slicks

One of the positives of the new regulations will no doubt be the return of ungrooved, dry weather tyres. While the FIA has moved to drastically reduce the aerodynamic grip of the car and hence lower the apex speed in fast corners, the increase of mechanical grip will allow the cars to go faster in the slowest corners.
The change isn't however as simple as one may expect, as the tyre compounds and structure will be different. It has also emerged that because of this change, teams will have to move even more weight towards the front of the car, another challenge for the previously Michelin shod teams, who are grown accustomed to a rearward weight bias.
As usual, Bridgestone will supply the tyres, 2 different compounds at each Grand Prix, selected between 4 different types over the span of the season.