Martin Brundle urges F1 to explore alternative options over tire blanket ban

Brundle believes that banning tire warmers are unfavorable for the spectacle and safety of the sport.

Martin Brundle (Credits: The Independent)

The Montreal circuit in Canada presents unique challenges due to its slippery, bumpy nature. Additionally, the weather conditions can add to the complexity. The 2023 Canadian GP qualifying was chaotic due to the rain hitting the track. Tire choice was instrumental at the track. The use of tire blankets played a major role in the Q2 drama. But F1 is considering banning the machinery over sustainability concerns. Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle doesn’t see it as the right way forward.

Martin Brundle, while explaining Canadian GP Q2 drama, gave his take on the ban and how it might influence teams’ decision-making. He believes that without tire blankets, F1 would be devoid of moments of strategy as in Q2, where the blankets played an instrumental role.

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But at the same time, he acknowledges that it’s a necessary step toward sustainability. He then asked F1 if the ban was the right for sustainability, as it would only create scenarios where teams would run more laps and use more fuel.

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Brundle wrote in his SkySports column, “There are better ways to be environmentally friendly rather than fuelling an F1 car for a few extra laps to heat the tires every run rather than directly applying a very efficient blanket system which heats specifically the tire and wheel.”

Why is F1 pondering the ban on tire blankets?

The gradual phase-out of tire blankets, despite their current importance to F1 teams, has been proposed by the sport’s governing body. During the United States Grand Prix last year, a maximum temperature limit of 50 degrees Celsius was imposed on the tire blankets, causing team difficulties.

However, when the decision to completely ban tire blankets from 2024 onwards was announced, drivers and teams voiced strong opposition. They raised concerns about the challenges of starting a race with colder tires, which would significantly affect grip in the initial laps. Many drivers expressed worries that the ban would lead to an increase in crashes, prompting apprehension within the racing community.

Charles Leclerc talks about the 2024 tyres without blankets that he tested last week in Barcelona last week: "There are four or five corners which are very difficult referring to the difficulty of getting such cold tires 'up to speed' – the tires must come up to temperature."
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) June 16, 2023

Nevertheless, F1 remains committed to its goal of promoting sustainable development. The use of tire blankets, which rely on electric power and consume a substantial amount of energy, goes against this objective. Consequently, the sport has decided to eliminate tire blankets to align with its sustainability initiatives. By scrapping tire blankets, F1 aims to reduce energy consumption and contribute to a more environmentally friendly approach.

Brundle thus argues that F1 can explore alternatives that can prioritize environmental sustainability while parallelly maintaining the safety, competitiveness, and spectacle of the sport. While the pursuit of sustainability is a critical objective, the performance and strategy of the sport need not be compromised, according to him.