Sky F1's Martin Brundle says Formula 1's prospective ban on tyre warmers "doesn't make sense" and warns of the perils of such a move after cold tyres led to several incidents in last weekend's WEC race at Spa.
Several experienced drivers crashed on their out lap on their run down to Eau Rouge, but the most high-profile incident involved the works Ferrari hypercar of Antonio Fuoco.
The Italian lost control of his machine shortly after exiting the pits, unexpectedly caught out by his cold rubber. Fuoco veered off the track and smashed into the barriers.
The Ferrari Hypercar #50 is out of the race after Antonio Fuoco hits the wall after exiting the pits.#WEC #6HSpa pic.twitter.com/DLHlGSvhqT
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) April 29, 2023
Chilly conditions at Spa were certainly a factor in the mishap, but the general consensus among competitors at Spa was that the FIA's decision to ban tyre warmers ahead of the 2023 season has led to dangerous situations.
The FIA, Formula 1 and the teams are set to vote on a proposition to outlaw tyre warming from 2024, with a ballot taking place after this summer's British Grand Prix.
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Formula 1's exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli has been working towards producing a product that would no longer require heated blankets, a move undertaken as part of Grand Prix racing's sustainability efforts.
Despite the complexity of producing a tyre that would not require pre-warming, Pirelli claims that it is making progress and will be ready to supply a product in time for a post-British Grand Prix test, after which a final call will be made and subsequently followed by a vote.
In the wake of last weekend's incidents at Spa, Brundle responded on Twitter to fears expressed by fans over the consequence of banning tyre warmers in F1.
The former F1 driver suggested that a ban in F1 would defy common sense, it would also put drivers as well as marshals at risk.
"Doesn’t make sense for F1 to ban tyre heaters," wrote Brundle. "Cars will get crashed negating any cost savings + efficiencies. Drivers/marshals at higher risk.
"The most expensive and inefficient way of heating racing tyres during testing, practice, qualifying and racing has to be using an F1 car."
Doesn’t make sense for F1 to ban tyre heaters. Cars will get crashed negating any cost savings + efficiencies. Drivers/marshals at higher risk. The most expensive and inefficient way of heating racing tyres during testing, practice, qualifying and racing has to be using an F1 car https://t.co/kFfLIclADV
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) May 3, 2023
Brundle's concerns were already voiced earlier this year by Lewis Hamilton who questioned the benefits of the change, calling it a "pointless exercise".
"I think it’s dangerous" the Mercedes driver said in Bahrain. "I’ve tested the no blankets, and there is going to be an incident at some stage. So, I think it is the wrong decision.
"You have to drive multiple laps to get the tyres to work. The whole argument is that taking away the blankets is going to be more sustainable and more green, but in actual fact we just burn more fuel to get the temperature into the tyres.
"The more concern is when you go out: you are skating around and it is very twitchy. If someone else is on tyres that are working, you can easily collide with them. So, it is a pointless exercise."
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