Difficult tyre choice for slippery track

For the second consecutive season, all the Formula One teams will rely on the Bridgestone control tyres while battling it out for race wins and positions. The Japanese manufacturer is prepared for coping with difficult conditions in the season opener in Melbourne and comes up with an innovation.

For the teams, the tyre choice in Melbourne is difficult as the track's grip level keeps on changing throughout the weekend. Hence, fast lap times will be extremely rare, in the two practice sessions on Friday. Sections of the Albert Park Circuit will still be dirty because of the day-to-day traffic that is rolling on parts of the track prior to and after the race. Furthermore, graining might be a problem particularly when using the softer compound. A situation that will improve only during the course of the race weekend.

Another factor the teams will have to cope with when making their tyre choice are the quickly changing weather conditions that can occur during the Australian Grand Prix. Therefore, it isn't unlikely that wets or even 'extreme weather tyres' must be used. To offer the public the chance of seeing which tyres the cars are shod with, Bridgestone opted for colouring the middle groove of the 'extreme weather tyres' white - while the normal wets will have the white line on one of the outer grooves.

"We are very proud of having good relationships with all the teams in Formula One and we work hard to maintain our fairness while supplying these teams," said Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport. "Safety is a primary concern for Bridgestone and we hope for a safe motor-racing season. The excitement will be increased this year as the calendar features two new races, held in Valencia and Singapore. Still, everything starts in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix and I am looking forward to it."