2009 Bridgestone slick tyre specifications finalized

With the re-introduction of slick tyres in the 2009 Formula One Championship, sole supplier Bridgestone has had the specifications of its tyres finalized since sometime last week, although the FIA set the deadline to no later than September 1, 2008.

With many teams and drivers complaing about how this seasons tyres offered too little variation between compounds, Bridgestone has attempted to resolve those issues by introducing compounds that vary more between each type. But specifically, the variation will be in the areas of degradation, although single lap performance will be kept at similar levels.

When speaking to our colleagues over at 'autosport', Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima said; "The best lap will be very close, but comparing the second lap there will be maybe three tenths or more difference. The softer tyre will degrade very quickly, and the hard one will be more consistent."

Regarding how each compound will be distinguishable from one another, Bridgestone is considering a sidewall design in similar style to the current white rings on the grooves for the softer of the two compounds used during a GP.