Rosberg knocks Pirelli and its tyre colors

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Nico Rosberg has criticised Pirelli's decision to add additional colors to its 2018 tyre range, a love which will only confuse F1 fans says the 2016 world champion.

Formula 1's exclusive tyre supplier is expanding the line-up of compounds it will be offering to teams this year, adding a new superhard option at one end of the spectrum, and a hypersoft at the other.

Pirelli's range now includes seven compounds and colors. The Italian company initially considered using the same three colours at every Grand Prix, but ultimately decided that the spectators could handle the added complexity.

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Rosberg disagrees however.

"I believe having such a large number of tyre colours is the wrong approach," the retired German driver told RTL.

"No one cares about such details. At each race, teams have a soft, medium and hard tyre and the marking on them should be the same every time," he added.

"The number of compounds does not matter to the audience."

Last month, Pirelli sporting boss Mario Isola defended the company's choice of expanding its range and colors, doubting confusion would ensue.

"At the end of the season, with the new tyres, there was a lot of talking about 'ah Pirelli is generating confusion' -- this is not the target," Isola told ESPN.

"I'm sorry if we are generating confusion but I'm sure that by half way through the season nobody will talk about that because everyone will know what we're doing.

"So it's just because it's new and whenever you change something people are not happy about it initially."

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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.