They could easily come up with tyres which have no degradation, which last the
whole race. And maybe they will do just that because at the moment they are
getting a whole load of negative publicity, which they do not need.
Whatever Pirelli do, though, they need to do it fast. I had to keep stopping
myself from saying it in commentary, but tyre failures are driver killers.
You have no control because the car is spinning on a plank, you lose your
braking because you no longer have four points of contact with the ground.
An engine blowing up is not a driver killer but brakes failing, throttle
jamming, tyres failing – these are the critical failures.
There are very serious issues that need to be addressed.
So what happens next? I’m not surprised to hear the drivers discussing a
boycott but in my opinion they won’t go through with it.
Drivers will always race. I wanted to race at Indianapolis in 2005 when there
was a huge row over tyres.
Call me a cynic but I think what will happen is that the teams will lobby the
drivers to lobby for the changes which will most help them.
Out of every situation, they will seek to gain an advantage. T’was ever thus
in Formula One.
Already you have McLaren asking for the 2012 tyres, you have the others asking
for whatever suits their purpose right now.
Somehow they need to put aside their differences and find a solution in time
for the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring this weekend.
Something needs to change because it is only thanks to the racing gods that we
have not had a serious accident.