Lewis Hamilton’s ‘dangerous’ verdict leaves Formula 1’s tyre blanket ban on a tightrope
Formula one is in hot waters after Lewis Hamilton, and his fellow F1 drivers called their slick prototypes "dangerous."
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Lewis Hamilton at a press conference in Bahrain conference (Credits: Flashscore)
Formula 1 has found it self in hot waters after Sir Lewis Hamilton branded their latest prototype slicks “dangerous.” Tyre manufacturer Pirelli has announced that they are racing against time to come up with a suitable solution to the concerns.
Banning the use of tyre blankets has been one of Pirelli’s long-term objectives. By removing them, teams would consume less electricity. The need to fly them around the world would be eliminated, resulting in significant cost savings. It will help in achieving the carbon neutrality that the sport is aiming for by 2030. However, Hamilton believes that a total prohibition on tyre covers is “dangerous” and anticipates “an incident at some stage.”
Hamilton’s remarks have not gone unnoticed, with other drivers, like Carlos Sainz, backing the Mercedes driver. Sainz stated that it makes “no sense” to eliminate tyre blankets, given the safety implications. The drivers insisted that not using the blankets would leave the tyres cold and will need a few warmup laps to bring the tyres up to the working window. This means burning more fuel and producing more carbon. Whereas pre-heated tyres are stickier and provide better grip.
Mario Isola, the head of the Pirelli, says it is a challenge to develop slicks that will allow drivers to push hard straight out of the pits without being pre-heated. All while meeting safety standards and ensuring that the sport remains sustainable “So it’s a long journey. It’s just the first step. It’s a big technical challenge because we have to redesign completely their construction and all the compounds,” in his words. The company is under pressure to deliver on all fronts – safety, sustainability, and performance.
Pirelli remains committed to the plan outlined in next year’s FIA regulations. It is in the process of developing tyres that meet safety standards while also being sustainable. To meet these targets, Pirelli has just three slick test sessions. A few selected teams will run for two days in Bahrain next week and again over two days following the Spanish and British GPs.
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Pirelli Strives to Meet sustainability and safety demands with new tyres following blanket ban proposal
If the ban is implemented, just five teams will be required to agree to it following more testing and a vote in July at during the weekend at Silverstone. Pirelli has already made great strides toward developing wet tyres that do not require blankets. The new compound lets drivers push hard right out of the pits without being pre-heated, making it a huge step forward for sustainability.
Creating intermediates and slicks that allow drivers to push hard right out of the pits without being pre-heated, on the other hand, is a more complex and difficult undertaking than developing wets. Drivers will have to drive multiple laps to get the tyres to operate, which will have an influence on strategy and race mechanics.
Pirelli has already made progress towards a sustainable future for the sport, with lower temperatures and shorter storage times reducing the amount of electricity used to heat F1 tyres in 2022 by half compared to a decade ago. But, the move towards a ban on tyre blankets is a significant change that needs to be executed with care.
Pirelli is racing against time and is under pressure to develop tyres that meet safety standards, are sustainable, and satisfy the expectations of drivers, teams, and the FIA. The drivers’ concerns about safety have put pressure on the company.
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Justin P Joy
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