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Why did Pirelli opt to make such big changes to this years tyres?
The compounds are all softer, The sidewall shape was changed (Made squarer I believe) & they introduced this steel belt.

The 2011/2012 tyres were fine, I don't recall hearing talk of cuts & only recall seeing punctures caused due to contact with other cars, wall's etc... There didn't seem the need to make the sort of big changes Pirelli decided to make.


Regarding the teams blocking the changes post Barcelona, I also think Pirelli hold some responsibility for that as they refused to label the problem as a safety concern. Had they done this then the FIA would have been able to push the changes through without unanimous agreement from the teams.

I wasn't aware of this, and maybe I missed this point somewhere in this thread, but apparantly Alonso also had a tyre failure during yesterday's race but as it happened around Stowe he immediately came into the pits (early) for his first pit stop. This wasn't picked up by any TV cameras or stations, but Charlie Whiting was aware.

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I've also read that Gutierrez had a front/left tyre failure going into Stowe & thats what all the debris was.

I believe you are correct, that failure caused damage to the front wing. Although that was caught on TV whereas Alonso's failure was almost invisible.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
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Correct.

Hulkenberg also had a slow puncture.

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Dan Wheldon | 1978 - 2011

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You know what, I was actually trying to picture what it might look like if more than one driver had a blow out at the same time. That gives me a good idea

It would make Omaha Beach look like a Sunday picnic.

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Dan Wheldon ¦ 1978-2011
Marco Simoncelli ¦ 1987-2011
Jules Bianchi ¦ 1989-2015
Justin Wilson ¦ 1978-2015

Yeah, I know he's mad and I don't care. I do not care. I did not care then. I do not care now. I'm here to race him.

I am impressed at the cars' stability in the straightline blowouts.

The narrow rear wing probably has something to do with it, not taking any damage from the tyre, or we would have had a couple Hakkinen-style spins (Germany 1999).

I think that might be the case, although Hakkinen's spin was at maximum speed so that's a difference.

Hakkinen had damage of the rear wing.


For an example, here other explosion of the left rear tire on top speed:
[youtube]R_lmacEmy78&start=150[/youtube]

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The most famous will probably be the one of Mansell in Adelaide 1986...

Button at Spa 2004 had a puncture in the straight

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

but he lost control over his car then

Hakkinen was probably at higher speed than all of these, most of which happened quite early in the straights (Vergne was the latest, I think) and also Hakkinen was running a tea tray rear wing and about to brake/turn in ... the car control from Katayama at that section of le Sarthe was impressive though.

Sunday's race was quite a concerning situation with the tyres and I do think all teams can now agree, whatever their previous position, that the tyres do need changing for safety reasons. Things like what happened with Alonso and Raikkonen (tyre exploding right in front of them) are very dangerous in light of the Massa and Henry Surtees accidents of a few years ago, and can't be allowed to continue.

I know Red Bull did previously mention safety, but I can also see why people were suspicious that this wasn't their only motivation. I think these concerns need to be put aside now though. Safety needs to be paramount. The Nurburgring shouldn't provide such a problem, but the tyres need fixing before Spa.

what I meant was that Mansell is the one that everyone know about. It was probably also the 'most dramatic' one as he lost the world championship with only like 20% of the race to go.

Although aerogi, while Mansell's 1986 tyre failure is the most famous (because of the reasons you mention), I suppose if there was a list, you could put Schumi's 1998 failure at Japan in 2nd as well as Hakkinen at Germany in 1999 3rd.

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BTCC Pick Em's Champion 2010
Formula Fun Cup Champion 2013
http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk

Yes now you mention I remember Schumi's as well back in 1998. That was indeed at the same level regarding 'importance'.

The one of Hakkinen in 1999, although very spectucular, was in the middle of the season, and in the end it didn't matter regarding the championship.

But just imagine the situation, we are in Brazil, with 10 laps to go, Vettel is in 2nd place which is enough to clinch a 4th title, and suddenly on the straight his tyre goes kaboom and Alonso becomes the world champion... I think the forum would go 'kaboom' as well then...

Hakkinen's didn't really have title significance. I'd agree with Mansell as the most iconic tyre failure moment, followed by Schumacher's 1998 one which I also remember watching ... not sure on one to complete the podium. Villeneuve (1979 vintage) for sheer awesome.