Tire debate goes on

[lkjohnson1950]

Again, Alonso was not cruising. His lap times were among the fastest on almost every lap. The tires will work if you've done your homework and set up your car to suit them. As Kimi has said, they are the same for all the teams.

[Alianora La Canta]

The only problem with that theory is that Fernando himself said he couldn't go above 90% because of the tyres.

[F1fanaticBD]

I have been a F1 fanatic (obviously not the 'F1fanatic')

  You can be the one if you say the magic words "Schumacher is the best" 

On the serious note, I agree that Pirelli's tyres have created a issue that require addressing, but if you people are kind enough just look what had been done by the Bidgestone tyres where drivers' can push 100%, produced some of the boring races, or I would rather say high speed processions. The car with highest downforce will be able to get to the pole, and from then on the driver would drive lights to flag as because Cataluniya being a very technical circuits its almost impossible to get past it. So Pirelli has introduced us a different sort of racing where not only the high-downforce matter there are other things to be considered.

[Scott]

I think a better solution is for Pirelli to bring all compounds to the race and let the teams decide which to use.  Relax the 'only two compounds' rule.  Let them race the whole day on hards if they want.

[Scott]

According to Autosport, the FIA will not allow any changes that aren't purely for safety. 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107487

 

[Dare]

According to Autosport, the FIA will not allow any changes that aren't purely for safety. 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107487

 

Seems odd,I don't remember any safety issues arising this
year.

[Scott]

There were a few tire de-laminations (but I guess no more than other years?).

[John S]

Funny ain't it that Red Bull won the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix with four stops and made no complaints at all. 

Now all of a sudden 4 stops is way too many. 

[lkjohnson1950]

Ferrari's Horse Whisperer pointed out that Schumacher won in 2004 at least once with 4 pit stops.

[F1fanaticBD]

I have a feeling Pirelli knew about the regulations, but to put a brake on the people specially Red Bull they went onto saying they will change, knowing pretty well that they would not be allowed to do so. So whoever points at Pirelli for tyres they will say, "Look we want it to change, but regulations says otherwise." Well played Pirelli 

[Irisado]

Ferrari's Horse Whisperer pointed out that Schumacher won in 2004 at least once with 4 pit stops.

That was just to see if it could be done if I recall correctly, and I think it was at the French Grand Prix.  Remember, Ferrari were so far ahead of everyone in 2004, they could employ pretty much any strategy they pleased.

[F1fanaticBD]

Ferrari's Horse Whisperer pointed out that Schumacher won in 2004 at least once with 4 pit stops.

That was just to see if it could be done if I recall correctly, and I think it was at the French Grand Prix.  Remember, Ferrari were so far ahead of everyone in 2004, they could employ pretty much any strategy they pleased.

I think that is also applicable for SebVet's 2011 Spanish GP, that year they dominated, and was miles ahead of the others.

[lkjohnson1950]

Ferrari's Horse Whisperer pointed out that Schumacher won in 2004 at least once with 4 pit stops.

That was just to see if it could be done if I recall correctly, and I think it was at the French Grand Prix.  Remember, Ferrari were so far ahead of everyone in 2004, they could employ pretty much any strategy they pleased.

On the contrary, Ferrari determined that the only way to catch Alonso was to put fresh tires on the car at the end.

[Irisado]

On the contrary, Ferrari determined that the only way to catch Alonso was to put fresh tires on the car at the end.

I think that your memory is a bit wonky here.  Here's one summary of the race: http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr723.html.  It's not the best, the 2004 Autosport report, and the 2004 Autocourse, go into more detail, but Schumacher could have beaten Alonso for pace in 2004 on the same strategy.  However, the difficulty with overtaking at Magny Cours meant the team chose to adopt a four stop strategy.  If the Ferrari did not have so much raw pace in the first place, then it would never have worked.

[lkjohnson1950]

OK, perhaps I should have said, the only way to pass Alonso at the end was to put on fresh tires. Either way they decided that to win, they needed 4 stops, they weren't just amusing themselves.