Magnussen: Teams critical of 2020 tyres to gain an edge

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Haas' Kevin Magnussen says F1 should select for next season the tyre that delivers the best show and dismiss what the Dane believes is a biased criticism by the teams of Pirelli's 2020 product.

Teams were given an opportunity to sample next year's tyre during the US Grand Prix weekend in Austin earlier this month.

However, a majority of drivers provided negative feedback on Pirelli's new-spec rubber, describing the tyres as lacking grip, comments that prompted F1 to consider scrapping the product altogether and remaining with this year's compounds for 2020.

Pirelli won't fight teams' eventual rejection of 2020 tyres

A final call will be made by the FIA and teams after next week's post-season test in Abu Dhabi, but Magnussen insists the sport should just go ahead and impose the tyre that can potentially produce the best spectacle on the track and discard a criticism motivated by each team's self-interest.

"I think it's very difficult to take the opinion of the drivers and the teams," said the Haas driver.

"Because everyone will just say what looks like their advantage and go for what they think is best for themselves.

"At the end of the day, it's the same tyre for everyone. So, F1 should go with the tyre that makes the best show. That's it."

Magnussen also promoted the idea of opening up F1 to a second tyre supplier, a competitive situation last seen in 2006 when both Bridgestone and Michelin provided their products to the grid.

"I would love to see it, it's exciting," said Magnussen. "But there's a whole lot of other factors going into that that makes it difficult."

On the future, the 27-year-old is looking forward to the sport's switch to 18-inch tyres in 2021, a specification he once experienced during his junior years in motorsport.

"I have once driven an 18-inch tyre, but not in a Formula 1 car", he said. "It was the World Series by Renault, Michelin was testing. It wasn't a disaster.

"I'm looking forward to see how it's going to be in 2021, the regulations and if it really is going to bring the field closer. It should do, but it's going to be exciting to see."

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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.