More whinging from Ferrari

More whinging from Ferrari

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FourWheelDrift

Original Poster:

89,414 posts

290 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
It's the old, "we wanted and had it our own way to dominate F1 but now we're not winning so make it easier for us to do so because we are Ferrari" situation.

GP.com said:

Ferrari's ultimate boss Luca di Montezemolo is complaining that Formula 1 is being dictated too much by tyres.

"With these new regulations it's more of a World Championship for tyres than for cars," he said. "I'm worried because I see, after five races, that we have a very competitive car, but we have a big problem with the tyres. Bridgestone have worked very well in previous years, but with these new regulations, tyres have an excessive and certainly decisive role. I hope the situation improves because we have trouble in being fast both over a hot lap and over the race distance."

Memories are short in Formula 1. Ferrari was offered the opportunity to sign up to a single tyre formula last October as part of the "Cost Saving Initiative" at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which proposed a control tyre for F1. It was agreed by nine of the 10 teams. One of the reasons that Ferrari refused to sign up was that in recent years the relationship that exists between Ferrari and Bridgestone been an important advantage. Now that Bridgestone is not producing the goods needed (at least not at every event) the team is questioning the rules.

Bridgestone's Hirohide Hamashima says that the lack of performance is because the tyre manufacturer does not do enough testing.

"Our rivals can count on several top teams," he said. "So they can improve much faster. This is particularly decisive this year, with these new regulations."

There is an element of truth in this but Bridgestone must look at its tyre supply policy for a reason why this has happened. The company started out with several big teams but gradually each moved to Michelin because they were unhappy with the special relationship between Ferrari and Bridgestone. The upside of that policy was the enormous success of the partnership in recent years.

The downside is the pain that is now being felt at Maranello.

The good news for F1 is that in such a circumstance Ferrari might consider a switch to a control tyre (it could be justified as being made in the best interests of the sport) and that would be a major step in reducing the split that currently exists between Ferrari and the other major teams. This would also address the testing issue as without tyre rivalry the need to test would be reduced considerably - and that would bring down costs, which would help Ferrari as well.

This can only be a good thing because the current situation is not in the best interest of the sport. It would also help the safety situation as a control tyre would provide a much more effective means of slowing the cars.

groomi

9,319 posts

249 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
And if an agreement was made to use a control tyre, who would be the manufacturer?

Would it be the manufacturer who currently supplies most of the grid, or Bridgestone




What, me? Cynical?

steviebee

13,389 posts

261 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
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The words "bed", "made", "lay", "in it", etc, come to mind!

Joe911

2,763 posts

241 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
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Ferrari really are making themselves a laughing stock - whining tossers.

LRdriver II

1,936 posts

255 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
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I suggest Kumho or Colway remoulds as a control tyres.. or those rock solid ones they use on the caterham academy.

Frik

13,547 posts

249 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
Pride alway comes before a fall so they say.

Own up, who tied Michael's shoe laces together?

FourWheelDrift

Original Poster:

89,414 posts

290 months

Tuesday 10th May 2005
quotequote all
LRdriver II said:
I suggest Kumho or Colway remoulds as a control tyres.. or those rock solid ones they use on the caterham academy.


Oh and some nice Michelin 4x4 Off Road tyres for *Villenueve to help him out of the gravel traps

* - Replace with Sato, Montiero, Freisacher as desired