Mar.25 (GMM) According to rumours in the Albert Park paddock on Thursday, the FIA has asked Bridgestone to consider supplying a more extreme selection of tyres at future grands prix.
The news follows an intense media period for formula one in the wake of the 2010 opener in Bahrain, which was slammed for being too processional after a winter of hype.
It has been suggested that more extreme tyre offerings might open up more options in terms of race strategy, after an early single pitstop was the order of the day in Bahrain.
But F1’s most experienced active driver, Rubens Barrichello, refused to blame Bridgestone for the narrower front tyres that he said have made overtaking nearly impossible.
“It’s not the weakness of the tyre, its the weakness of the rule,” the Brazilian said in Melbourne. “We need more mechanical grip, its the only solution.
“Its very dodgy to overtake a car in front because we don’t have the front tyres,” he added.
Bridgestone’s Hirohide Hamashima on Wednesday said “safety is the overriding concern” in the process of selecting compounds for grands prix.
The supplier has already locked in its selection of compounds until the Turkish GP at the end of May — which is five races after Sunday’s second round of the 2010 calendar.
“I hope there is something (changed), but first of all I think we need to wait four or five races before we actually take a conclusion on how it is,” said Barrichello.
