F1 legend Alain Prost is advocating in favour of complete freedom for drivers when it comes to tyre and compound selection.

F1's new regulations have made the cars faster must have also restricted overtaking maneuvers, while tyre strategies are also less of a factor this season.

The four-time world champion, who is an advisor to Renault, believes the rules should be tweaked towards more tyre selection freedom.

"Let the drivers put together their own tyre choices from the 5 different compounds and assemble 13 sets according to their wishes," Prost said.

Currently, Pirelli takes 3 consecutive compounds to each race and tightly controls how the teams can select them.

But Prost told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "I would even let them use different tyre types in one set -- so a soft for the left and a hard for the right, or vice versa."

Prost believes a blank check on tyres would lead to vastly different race strategies and performance variations which in turn would put the onus on driver talent and analysis.

"I would also remove the rule that you have to use two different tyre compounds," added Prost.

"If you want to use a hard tyre without making a pitstop, please do. Or perhaps another would be faster with two stops and only using the softest tyres."

The Frenchman, thinks the proposal would underline  "the feel of the drivers. And it could provoke surprises."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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