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Points system for tires?
An interesting article from Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport published yesterday regarding an impromptu meeting called by FIA race director Charlie Whiting on Thursday.
Google translated:
The team managers met with FIA race director Charlie Whiting in Abu Dhabi for an unscheduled meeting. The topic was exclusively new tire regulations for 2019.
Once again the topic has been raised by the drivers. They complained during a meeting with Pirelli head Mario Isola in Brazil that they could not attack with their tires without overheating. One reason for this is Pirelli’s policy of building durable tires.
Because overtaking is so difficult, the position on the track becomes more important. This forces the teams to put in less than more tire changes . That’s why most of the 2019 Grand Prix were tackled with one-lap race strategies. The panic makers in the scene speak again of boredom.
Therefore, FIA race director Charlie Whiting has scheduled a meeting with the team managers on Thursday (22.11.2018) in front of the GP Abu Dhabi to find ways out of their misery. The driver’s wish for a race without tire protection will never be fulfilled.
That fails already at the fuel consumption:
“If the drivers in Austin were allowed to attack fully, they would have been out of fuel two laps before the end, every time” says one of the team managers.
Two compulsory pit stops or points score?
Whiting wanted to discuss with the leaders of the ten teams some ideas that have recently come to the table.
So in the future, the choice of tires for all drivers should be free, even those who qualify in the top ten.
Objection of the small teams:
“Then the races become even more boring. If the top teams choose the toughest tires on offer, a procession threatens. ”
Another suggestion is two compulsory pit stops, with the teams being free to choose the type of tire.
The regulation to use at least two different compounds would then be eliminated. But this regulation would probably mean that the races are even more confusing for the spectators.
Fernando Alonso sarcasm during Brazilian GP 2018
Also a points system for tires made the round. This implies that each type of tire is rated. Hard with 6 points, Medium with 4, Soft with 3.
Each participant must come to 12 points at the end of the race. So he can drive hard twice, medium three times or soft four times. And of course, mix too.
Also, this idea has little chance to create the hurdle of unanimity that would be needed for late 2019 changes to the regulations. “Too complicated,” say the team managers.
Another point was the request for more rain tires in Friday practice. Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder, however, doubts whether more will actually be driven on a wet Friday:
“Then it is too wet for one, too dry for another. We’d want to save engine runtime and the nobody wants to risk no development parts in the rain. ”
A Mercedes engineer is surprised by the whole meeting agenda: “Next year, there will be new cars and new tires. First, let’s see how that affects the races before we introduce more new things. ”
Walter Koster back at it again with a brilliant question for Lewis
Verstappen defends Ocon push in tense conference
“It’s easy to say I should have done something different,” Verstappen said.
“But I don’t expect to crash with a backmarker.
“I honestly don’t understand what I should be doing different.
“With the emotional side of it, you have not been a racing driver or you have not been in this position where there is a lot to play for.
“We are all here to win and you are in that position, then it gets taken from you. It’s not nice.
“Emotions can then take over and I think it is really normal [to react like that].”
Verstappen was then pressed on what Ocon had actually said in the weighing room to prompt such a reaction from him.
“Something I wasn’t expecting to hear,” Verstappen replied. “It doesn’t matter what it is was, at the end of the day.
“It clearly p*ssed me off as straightaway I was expecting an apology.
“Maybe with the adrenaline still kicking in from the race then maybe you don’t get the right answer.
“But we are not robots. We have emotions. We could put robots in the car but I don’t think we want that.”
Ocon was asked after whether he felt he played his part in what happened between the old F3 rivals.
“Yeah, I just think we need to move forward from what happened,” he answered.
“We can’t change the past.
“Even if Max said the opposite and that he would like to come back on what he did after the race.
“So it’s done, we can’t change it and we have to move forward.”
Vandoorne to work for Mercedes F1 team in 2019
“I’ll be doing the simulator work in the F1 team for them, with Mercedes,”
“That’s an exciting part for me as well, to still be involved in the F1 world, to be with the world champions as well.
“It will be a very interesting move. I’m sure I can bring them a lot of fresh ideas, but also for me to see the differences there are, because I’ve only been at work with McLaren in F1.
“It’s definitely good to keep involved in the [F1] world, because we never know what happens in the future.
“To be involved with Mercedes and to perform the work for them is good, they will know exactly what I’m capable of doing.”
“If the drivers in Austin were allowed to attack fully, they would have been out of fuel two laps before the end, every time” says one of the team managers – err, simple solution that even Dumbo could work out, SHORTEN THE RACE BY TWO LAPS. Are these idiots actually being paid a salary?
That’s actually a valid point there Rupert, besides I’m sure we wouldn’t miss those two laps anyway 😉
why not we vary point on everything? 4 points with the nicest livery, 3 points for crossing the finish line with style 😀
now that is a stunningly American way of making a sport ‘interesting’ 😉