Michelin says tires may not hold up at Spa (pre US)

[graywolf624]

http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/914355186__20_06_2005_FIA_Michelin_letter.pdf

[RC45]

Looks like Michelin tried to begin dialogue earlier (with regard to "safe use"), but the governing body chose to pass the buck.

I bet you can trace it all the way back to the inane tyre rules that F1 and the FIA have structured over the last couple of years.

Essentially, the engineering progress and ability of the tyre manufacturers was second guessed and altered by bizarre rule changes.

instead of letting the tyre guys build the best tyre, they have been subjected to building the best tyre as design by F1 and the FIA.

Yet clearly they have admitted they have neither the knowledge or experience or knowhow to dictate design specs - yet they farging dictate design specs.

What a fiasco.

:roll:

[SFDMALEX]

And all this is the result of trying to stop Ferrari from winning :lol: Gotta love it.

[|Nuno|]

What's ironic is that Michelin were the ones suggesting this rule back in 2004, and yet now they can't (or don't want to compromise performance) make a resistant enough tyre. Heh, so much for Ferrari being benefited... :P

Anyway, before seing a picture of the kerbs I won't comment on this, although I can't help but think that it's another case of Michelin not being able to make a decent all around tyre (read, safe and fast) and then throwing the potato at the FIA, to see if the track is changed, eliminating then a potential performance loss by the Michelin runners. But we'll see...





And here's the actual proposal, from 2004:



Michelin have issued a series of proposals designed to slow Formula 1 cars down.

The French tyre manufacturer has suggested that cars use the same set of tyres for qualifying and the entire race.

Other proposals include a massive reduction in testing and the scrapping of the rule that allows manufacturers to develop different compounds for different teams.Michelin’s ideas come in response to an FIA request for suggestions on how to reduce the performance of F1 cars.

Michelin competitions boss Pierre Dupasquier said: “We believe that the FIA’s objectives can be met by implementing these proposals.

“Firstly, to be able to provide tyres that last much longer, we will be obliged to use much harder compounds, which in turn will be less “grippy”, thus reducing speeds.

“Secondly, to seriously reduce costs, testing must be limited. This can be complemented by providing fewer tyres, so the amount of testing would be further reduced.

“I’m sure there can be a saving in teams’ operational costs of over 50 per cent.

“And finally, these ‘hard’ tyres will leave less rubber on the track, making the ‘dirty’ line a thing of the past and therefore encouraging overtaking, something everybody around F1 wants.”

Outgoing FIA president Max Mosley had previously indicated that he felt the only way to reduce tyre performance was to revert to a single supplier.Michelin have already said that they will pull out of the sport if that happens.

CEO and chairman Edouard Michelin said: “Our proposals offer a triple benefit: an increase in safety, a reduction in costs and an improvement to the racing spectacle – particularly by having more overtaking.

“These proposals therefore both respond positively to the wishes of the FIA and also allow teams the freedom to choose their tyre supplier; a freedom that is at the very heart of the companies involved in Formula 1.

“Michelin is therefore happy to continue to work with its partners and the F1 Technical Working Group in order to find the best way forward.”
______________________

I found this here (http://www.linksheaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4071&st=0), by the way. :)

[RC45]

Michelin’s ideas come in response to an FIA request for suggestions on how to reduce the performance of F1 cars.


Not Michelins idea - but the FIA - this way they get to legally dodge the responsability of such a stupid idea.

For shit sake - if all they want to do is "slow the cars down" - then just have a max HP, max torque & max speed artificially applied by an electronic nanny.

Problem fucking solved.

[sameerrao]

I wonder whether Michelin actually tested at Spa? I am pretty sure that F1 teams dont go there at all apart from the race weekend.

I am thinking that they are extrapolating some data from last year's race keeping in mind the changes to the tire since. Or it must be data gathered from some sports car event.

Based on Max's firm insistence that the rules be followed, Michelin better fix its problem or its gonna be another race with 6 participants. :D

[RC45]

^^ see that's the problem - FI has become Max and Bernies personal play ground - world sport be damned.

[Toronto]

michelin bashing thread please, for all topics michelin,
news please post in the news thread
lets keep it clean!!!