Pirelli 2013

[WhiteBlue]

Such a good reason to let Mercedes participate, as this is not a "Young Driver test" anymore, what a farce indeed.

I don't understand your cynicism. The FiA have clearly stated that Mercedes will not participate and have agreed to do so.

[WhiteBlue]

Formula One is therefore totally dependent on the tyre suppliers to ensure that no risks are taken in the pursuit of performance. We are confident that we can rely on you to make every effort to see that there are no more tyre failures this season.

In the meantime, the FIA has asked Pirelli for an assurance that there will be no repetition of the tyre problems at this weekend’s German Grand Prix or at subsequent grand prix.

Different words but the same demand. It now is all a question what will happen in Germany.

[xpensive]

Such a good reason to let Mercedes participate, as this is not a "Young Driver test" anymore, what a farce indeed.

I don't understand your cynicism. The FiA have clearly stated that Mercedes will not participate and have agreed to do so.

Come on WB, don't go gullible on me, we know eachothers a little too well for that, see JET's...I mean Fox's response above?

[WhiteBlue]

Such a good reason to let Mercedes participate, as this is not a "Young Driver test" anymore, what a farce indeed.

I don't understand your cynicism. The FiA have clearly stated that Mercedes will not participate and have agreed to do so.

Come on WB, don't go gullible on me, we know each others a little too well for that, see JET's...I mean Fox's response above?

That's not an issue of gullibility IMO. We have an official press release by the governing body that says:

Notwithstanding the revised conditions as set out above, in the interests of the sport the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team has accepted to not participate in this test, as per the recent decision of the International Tribunal.

You can take it to the bank that Merc will not be at the test or I will eat an old balaclava and a tennis shoe.

[xpensive]

...
You can take it to the bank that Merc will not be at the test or I will eat an old balaclava and a tennis shoe.

I will take this quote to Fort Knox, that much is for certain.

[WhiteBlue]

Of course I meant to say that the team will not be participating. Observing is pretty certain IMO.

[xpensive]

Of course I meant to say that the team will not be participating. Observing is pretty certain IMO.

It is indeed WB, but the quote above is already secured behind seven seals, by the letter at that.

Right Fox?

[PhatalOne]

Also, what tire manufacturer in their right mind would sign up for this garbage when there are many other forms of motorsport that are actually relevant to the product lines the companies sell to stay in business?

I don't think I can agree with that statement...

I can agree with you that there are many forms of motorsport that will not have a direct relationship to production vehicles but I think you are dismissing touring cars out of turn.

Additionally, Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich from Audi has previously commented on why Audi never was interested in Formula One:
‘There’s a very good reason why we are not in F1,’ says Dr. Ullrich. ‘There’s no relevance to the road. Audi has always been engaged in motorsport that’s relevant to our customers such as rallying and touring cars, which brought quattro, FSI and TFSI to our road cars.

‘This is why in 1999 we decided against F1. Instead we decided to take on the greatest race in the world. We went for Le Mans.’

Source: http://www.formula1blog.com/2011/05/26/ ... rrelevant/

While a car manufacturer and tire manufacturer are not completely the same, I would postulate that touring cars, the forces present, and conditions encountered are much more relevant to road vehicles in terms of tire compounds and construction than F1.

[WhiteBlue]

It is indeed WB, but the quote above is already secured behind seven seals, by the letter at that.

you are such a funny chap, X!

[xpensive]

I do what I can WB, while July 17-19th isn't far away, I could perhaps help you a with few recipes on the balaclava?

I suggest a very hot salsa and an earthy Rioja, definitely beans anyway, while the french might suggest a flambe?

[skwdenyer]

How is the 2nd 3-day test to be sanctioned? There recent International Tribunal decision made clear that the FIA was not permitted to change the rules, meaning that CW could not sanction Mercedes' test. This time is it a case of 'nobody will complain' or is there a clause permitting the teams to unanimously agree to such a rule change mid-season?

[Just_a_fan]

The FIA can do what they like, in effect, by using the word "safety" in their reason.

[Just_a_fan]

I have been wondering about some of the things said / done with the tyres. One of the teams, I forget which, said that one of the ways of helping the tyres to last (in the current degredation issue) is to reduce the tyre pressures to move the load on to the shoulder and away from the main part of the tread. Of course, doing so increases the likelihood that damage on the shoulder will lead to failure becuase the shoulder has higher stress levels.

One of the responses the teams issued to their drivers was that they would increase tyre pressures at the tyre change.

Increasing pressure helps the shoulder but at the expense of the tread. Assuming the initial reason for reducing pressures was correct in the first place, of course.

So could we be in the siutation that the teams have actually caused the problem by trying to work around the tyres that Pirelli, under the FIA guidance, had brought to the races.

There is a precedent for this - a couple of years ago the teams, particularly RedBull, were running higher camber angles than Pirelli advised. There were some failures/tyre issues then too.

[Cam]

Suppliers should know by now that teams will push the boundaries and tolerances of any component. Any supplier not considering this hasn't done due diligence. If the lower pressures were an issue, then the failure point must be well past what any team would run. That safety buffer should be across all aspects of a component. I think trying to blame teams here is not viable.

That said, hopefully everyone now realizes building F1 components that are intentionally designed to fail - is a bad idea. Increase the show, by all means, but through better regulations, not poor components.

Lets hope this is the kick in the backside F1 desperately needed.

[WhiteBlue]

The FIA can do what they like, in effect, by using the word "safety" in their reason.

Basically correct for the president, but he has to have a fax vote from the WMSC to make it stick.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motors ... -Prix.html

It is understood the Italian manufacturer will issue a statement today, with a switch from steel to Kevlar belts – which it intended to make in Canada last month before the change was blocked by a handful of teams – coming into effect immediately.

A return to 2012 tyres, which also featured Kevlar belts, would have been the preferred solution this weekend but there is insufficient time to prepare them given the five-day turnaround from Sunday’s race to Friday’s first practice session at the Nürburgring. The use of 2012 tyre structures, with 2013 compounds, is likely to come into effect from Hungary at the end of July.

Not an unexpected solution.