2015 Belgian Grand Prix - 21-23 August

[GPR-A duplicate2]

It's been a known fact that, PIRELLI has been asked to manufacture tyres with a certain behavior and that is what they have done exactly. No point in blaming PIRELLI, but yes, it's another subject to understand why PIRELLI are subjecting themselves for such a humiliation. But they are doing what they have been asked to. It's a known fact that, PIRELLI tyres FALL in performance after certain stage and then FAIL if pushed beyond that. Ferrari were too greedy today as their car was just not good enough to get a decent result, without attempting an one stopper. May be those PIRELLIS do lost a good 40 laps, but not on a power track like SPA or MONZA. They probably would have still lasted the race distance on that Ferrari, had it not for Grosjean pushing that Ferrari to the breaking point.

[Spoutnik]

I'm pretty sure if it was Merc, the outcome and the reaction will be different. Deluded Fans.

[LionKing]

I am pretty sure when Pirelli gave the max recommendation of 40 laps, they meant for this track not Australia, not Spain, not a loop around the capital beltway...

[sgth0mas]

Degradation and catastrophic failure are 2 VERY different things. Pirelli were not asked to make tires that grenade when their time is up.

[Jordan44]

Degradation and catastrophic failure are 2 VERY different things. Pirelli were not asked to make tires that grenade when their time is up.

Hembrey said: The tyres were completely gone, this would happen with every tyre when there's no more rubber left.

If he's telling the truth, then the explosion was unavoidable from a manufacturing perspective. The thing that doesn't add up is how consistent Vettel's pace was. No sign of deg.

[FoxHound]

I'm pretty sure if it was Merc, the outcome and the reaction will be different. Deluded Fans.

Why?

Why would "deluded" describe fans making assessments on a tyre designed to wear?
200km's on such a tyre would at best be described as risky.
That it happened just after eau rouge is indicative of the punishment this tyre, designed to wear, was under.

There was also some fabulous analysis conducted by one of our very own (bhall) to graphically demonstrate the stresses the underinflated tyre was under YESTERDAY.

Ferrari gambled as they have every right to do. But it literally blew up in their faces sadly. They had other strategies available which through Kvyat and Verstappen, were shown to be optimal.

The alternative is rock hard Bridgestones that go an entire race distance. But then Pirelli were not asked to perform to that task.

[threep]

Pirelli have been asked to produce a range of tyres and bring two compounds to each race where the optimum race pace requires, on average, 2 changes of tyre. And that's exactly what they've done.

A team can choose to do more or fewer stops, factoring in such issues as safety cars, weather, being in clean or dirty air etc. I think it's fair enough for a team to adopt a strategy of just one stop, they will know that the tyre performance will not be optimum over its full life, but they also know that there will be increased risk, risk of the driver having an off owing to diminishing grip level, risk of tyre damage from debris and curbs as the tyre loses material and the increased risk from lock ups. That's racing and sometimes teams roll the dice.

Who of us has the data to really judge whether Ferrari's decision was too risky or not? They were the only ones who tried it and, but just a couple of laps, it backfired on them. You can't blame Vettel for being upset, but maybe he needs to direct some of that anger towards his team who decided on that strategy.

Rosberg's tyre failure is another kettle of fish and maybe Pirelli need to do some work there.

[The_table]

If pirelli say to ferrari that the tyre can do 40 laps and the tyre explodes at 28-29 laps then pirelli is at fault.
You would also think that his laptimes would become considerably worse if the tyres were at the end of their life?

[Kiril Varbanov]

One thing is truly worrying: the sudden blow-off, and not time degradation pattern. Vettel had solid pace, and was fighting GRO successfully.
How come it's never Pirelli's fault? What's going to happen in Monza with 350 km/h?

[LionKing]

Some people are talking as if Pirelli has brought the multi pit stops to F1. I remember Micheal 4 pit stop victory against Alonso's 3 with Michellin's at Magny Cours...

[FoxHound]

If pirelli say to ferrari that the tyre can do 40 laps and the tyre explodes at 28-29 laps then pirelli is at fault.
You would also think that his laptimes would become considerably worse if the tyres were at the end of their life?

Pirelli also said tyre life is relative to track conditions, fuel load, and avoidance of kerbs/respecting track limits.

I wonder, did Vettel respect the kerbs in accordance with Pirelli's advice?

[LionKing]

If pirelli say to ferrari that the tyre can do 40 laps and the tyre explodes at 28-29 laps then pirelli is at fault.
You would also think that his laptimes would become considerably worse if the tyres were at the end of their life?

Pirelli also said tyre life is relative to track conditions, fuel load, and avoidance of kerbs.

I wonder, did Vettel respect the kerbs in accordance with Pirelli's advice?

Was there anyone on the grid who was avoiding kerbs? Why are kerbs there if they are to be totally avoided?

[LionKing]

Fuel load??? For a 44 lap race, with a max recommendations of 40 lap, there is at most 4 extra laps of fuel on top of Pirelli's advice.

It is moot anyway since Vettel did not start with mediums, he changed to mediums. If anything this should have helped with 1/3 of the tank consumed.

[FoxHound]

If pirelli say to ferrari that the tyre can do 40 laps and the tyre explodes at 28-29 laps then pirelli is at fault.
You would also think that his laptimes would become considerably worse if the tyres were at the end of their life?

Pirelli also said tyre life is relative to track conditions, fuel load, and avoidance of kerbs.

I wonder, did Vettel respect the kerbs in accordance with Pirelli's advice?

Was there anyone on the grid who was avoiding kerbs? Why are kerbs there if they are to be totally avoided?

Who went as long as Vettel?

[NathanOlder]

I have always thought that Vettel pushes the track limits more than any other driver race after race. Maybe today it caught up with him, constantly hanging the edge of the tyres over the astro and into the gravel,dirt.

Just a thought