Toro Rosso technical boss James Key expects new-for-2016 F1 tyre rules to yield “interesting results” but warns they could be “complicated” for fans to grasp if not properly explained.
The revamped regulations have been devised to offer greater freedom and scope in tyre strategy. For each race weekend, Pirelli announces three compounds, with the softest one required to be used in Q3 and at least one of two compounds nominated mandatory for the grand prix.
As a result, F1’s official supplier selects three sets of tyres but teams are then free to pick the remaining 10 they will use during the event. What’s more, they have to make their choice known 14 weeks prior to flyaway races, and eight before a European race.
Several members of the paddock, including 2009 world champion Jenson Button and Williams technical director Pat Symonds, do not think the new regulations will have a major impact. Speaking from Toro Rosso’s factory in Faenza, Key offered a different point of view, though he admitted teams could quickly converge on the best strategy.
“It will be interesting to see how [the new rules] work out,” Key is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com.
“They can be quite complicated, so [the media] will have to work harder to get the message out there.
“But you have always got to be a bit careful that there isn't one optimum solution because everyone will end up at that optimum and it will become normal.”
Still, the Toro Rosso technical chief is confident the changes can shake things up and serve to improve the show.
“I think because teams are now free to choose a little bit what they want to do, you can play to the strengths of your car and you can play a bit to the strengths of the circuit you are going to,” Key added.
“So you can take a few risks maybe. It will certainly add a bit of variety to the season, and actually having three tyre choices at some tracks makes quite a big difference as to how you go through the strategy.
“So I suspect this year at least we will see some interesting results.”
As part of the revised regulations, Pirelli also has a new purple-marked ultrasoft compound, though it is likely to feature only on low-grip street circuits like Monaco.
The Italian company has already revealed its nominations for the first four grands prix, selecting the same three compounds – medium, soft, and supersoft – for Australia, Bahrain, China, and Russia.
Finally, should a team fail to select its tyres on schedule, Pirelli will make the choice on its behalf.
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