“We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as is
expected by our teams, sponsors and fans. However, the drivers have decided
that, if similar problems manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall
immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the
tyres endangers again the lives of drivers, marshals and fans.”
Jenson
Button, a director of the GPDA, had earlier described talk of a
boycott as “irrelevant”, saying “it’s all good now as we have some good
tyres on the car”.
It is unclear whether the statement had been planned or something was said in
the meeting with Whiting and Isola which spooked the drivers and prompted
them to take a stronger stance.
The big question going forwards is what do the tyre problems mean for the
championship? Drivers sounded as confused as anyone yesterday, although Mercedes
are expected to profit from the return to Kevlar belts, which should be
temperatures down by 10C or so. The Brackley team have suffered with
overheating tyres during races this year.
“Possibly it will reset the championship but the fact is our car is quick,” Lewis
Hamilton said. “It doesn’t matter which tyres we put on. I just hope
the car feels as strong here as it did last weekend at Silverstone.”