Tyre rules for raceday

[FW17]

Current rule allow for cars outside top 10 to start on fresh tyre of any compound.

This rule is increasingly becoming unfair to the top 10 who have set up their car for both qualifying and race. Also a new tyre has too much of an advantage over the 7 to 10th place cars which are just faster than the cars just outside top 10. It was a farce to see Sergio with the lead cars in the last 2 races just because he exploited an unfair tyre rule.

[Cam]

The rule is open to all teams, so how is it unfair? That a team intentionally qualifies just outside the top ten, in order to better exploit their car's benefits and optimal setup, is smart, IMO.

[FW17]

Take NH who was in Q3 was to start with tyres he qualified with, and is beaten by a team mate who started 16 just because of a tyre rule. How is that fair? Can the entire mid field of 10 cars start in 6 places of Q2? Why should 4 of these guys be disadvantaged?

[Cam]

Stating the same argument again doesn't really change anything. All teams and drivers have choices when it comes to qualifying. Mid field teams simply cannot qualify on pole (any non Merc team for that matter), so they choose strategy. That strategy can/does get results.

Compromising setup in qualy to maximize race performance, with the choice of tyre they want, is fair.

There's a tonne of other glaring examples we could highlight, which are not.

[Cold Fussion]

I would tend to agree. I don't see how you can intentionally qualify outside of the top 10, as any time you leave on the table is large risk with such a tight midfield, as it may mean you start 17th instead of 10th. At least in previous years, you could elect to not set a competitive time in Q3 and get the tyre of your choice with minimal if not zero wear.

[mertol]

Sergio was with the lead cars because he has the right engine on tracks with a lot of straights.

[zonk]

Take NH who was in Q3 was to start with tyres he qualified with, and is beaten by a team mate who started 16 just because of a tyre rule. How is that fair? Can the entire mid field of 10 cars start in 6 places of Q2? Why should 4 of these guys be disadvantaged?

Top ten starts the race on rubber they set best time in q2.

[FW17]

Top ten starts the race on rubber they set best time in q2.

Does it matter? It is used for a flying lap anyway.

Letting drivers outside top 10 to run new tyres is just giving them an advantage over other drivers in front.

[McMrocks]

Imagine following: Both Merc are that much faster that they can use the prime compound in Q2 and still make it in the Q3. Then they'd start on the prime tyre and will never be stuck behind cars like Perez because the harder tyre allows them to run longer. A dominant team would also be favored by the current rules.

IMO the FiA should just drop this stupid tyre rules. I can't see why the 10th-placed guy in Q should get a disadvantage over the 11th-placed guy. These tyre rules are another stupid and dumb attempt to improve the racing artificially.
You either let all chose the tyre they start with or all have to start on the tyre they used in Q. Same for everybody

[GitanesBlondes]

More silly is the requirement that both tire compounds be used during the race.

[SiLo]

Give them access to all compounds and let them use whatever they want. And let them start on whatever tyre they want as well.

This would give the fans something to talk about, and not knowing what tyres the guys were going to start on would make it a little bit more exciting too. A bit like when they used to qualify with race fuel on board (until they started publishing the fuel predictions).

As a fan, I want to know less about the strategies, almost nothing in fact, until they play them out. Otherwise it makes it boring!

[FW17]

I would prefer 2005 rules, tyres that lasted the entire distance of hard racing (with exception of kimi nurburgring). The problem is Pirelli does not have the tech or the experience to provide such a tyre.

Could also reduce the number of guys required by the team for weekend.

[Cam]

Or they can go full gimmick - joker tyres! One set of tyres that goes 4 secs a lap quicker, but you can only use them for 10 laps.

No, but really, just give the teams a full set of great tyres on friday and leave it at that - use them how they will and let the car/driver/team determine the results.

[mertol]

They already tried joker tires last year only they were blowing up randomly instead of being quicker. Too bad noone got the joke...

[FW17]

The idea of 2 compounds would have worked if there was a clear distinction in strategy with almost equal results. 3 stops with majority running with option against 2 stops with majority running with prime. Unfortunately the option tyre (or any) has been so weak that no team has ever considered alternative strategy.