LM10 wrote: ↑14 May 2018, 18:24
Predict a Mercedes win? What kind of proof do you expect? Villeneuve told after the race that it was a known thing in paddock the new tyres would suit Mercedes.
In addition, this is what it says in the AMuS article from 6. April:
"After extreme blistering in Barcelona, Mercedes has asked Pirelli for help. The tire manufacturer reacts in 3 races with a thinner tread. Not exactly to the delight of the competition."
A few reactions right after the decision:
McLaren: "We don't have any problems with blistering."
Ricciardo: "Our car treats the tyres more gentle than Mercedes."
A Team principal: "Why should we change the tyres if Mercedes are the ones having problems? They should find out themselves how to manage."
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... ufflaeche/
Oh boy, you don't speak a word of German do you? And yet, here you are quoting AMuS. Or did you simply not get past the headline?
Let me help you out (from the article you selectively quoted from, but the part you selectively left out):
AMuS wrote:Mercedes schlug Pirelli vor, auf den kritischen Rennstrecken die Gummischicht zu reduzieren. Eine dünnere Lauffläche bedeutet weniger Bewegung im Gummi und damit eine geringere Gefahr von Überhitzung.
Pirelli folgte der Bitte von Mercedes. „Das hätten wir auch von uns aus gemacht. So sind wir auch schon 2011 und 2012 in Monza und Spa verfahren“, wiegelt Isola Fairness-Bedenken ab. In Barcelona, Silverstone und Paul Ricard wird die Gummischicht auf den Reifen um 0,4 Millimeter reduziert. Das verringert das Gewicht eines Reifensatz immerhin um ein Kilogramm. Die Teams müssen das Geschenk mit Ballast auffüllen.
Translated:
While Mercedes did (apparently) suggest to reduce the thread of the tire, Pirelli [Mario Isola] did say they would have done that anyway. They already did that in 2011 and 2012 in Monza and Spa.
So at the end, lots of noise about something that has been done already in 2011 and 2012 and there were no issues back then.
I'd also add (again) that the change was due to safety concerns. Safety should be taken seriously, even if it only concerns a few cars. If you want to argue against that, we might as well talk conspiracy theories for 2013 when there was a huge construction change mid season or the constant camber and pressure requirements Pirelli keep changing up and down depending on track that can have just as much influence over who can get the tires to work and who not. It was a bigger topic last year and in 2015 (among others) (to the detriment of Mercedes), but some must have selective memories there too.
Pirelli row back from more extreme tyre pressure limits for Italian GP
https://www.racefans.net/2013/07/05/fia ... punctures/
There was even a topic on here not too long ago:
Influence of Pirelli tyre pressure on 2017 contenders