First Among Equals

[555-04Q2]

As long as they all have the same tire spec, i do not see any problem at all!

Thats the problem. Not all teams are getting the same specifications. My money is on Ferrari getting the class tyres. Watch Kimi and Massa run with the title next year.

[K-Pu]

Well, this nothing more than another example of the business that is F1. I´m not saying nothing new, and this has been said before in this thread:

That´s not fair for the sport but it´s legal. So go on with it, and see haw teams react to this wen the season has started.

[ioan]

This is not a big deal. Some teams have to pay more while others don't. This is a comercial policy that should not affect the championship and/or racing, unless there is going to be differences with the tires supplied to the teams.

As long as they all have the same tire spec, i do not see any problem at all!

My turn to agree with you!

[ioan]

Thats the problem. Not all teams are getting the same specifications. My money is on Ferrari getting the class tyres. Watch Kimi and Massa run with the title next year.

Who said that???


BS say it will be the same tyre specifications for all!
Quote from http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56009

"Bridgestone in 2007, as the single tyre supplier present in F1, will supply tyres according to the rules laid out by the FIA. The rules state that we will make available identical quantities and specifications of tyres for tests and races, which is our intention.

"We aim to be fair and equitable in our tyre supply in F1. Our contracts with teams are compliant with the rules for 2007.

[ArrowsFA1]

Think of F1 more as a competition, and that competition starts long before the lights go green.

All very true, but Bridgestone are no longer in competition with Michelin, they are in "competition" with themselves as the sole tyre supplier.

By having different contracts with teams, perhaps they are looking at 2007 as a way to reward "their" teams (for using their product when they were in competition with Michelin) before the 2008-10 rules come into force

All very true, but Bridgestone are no longer in competition with Michelin, they are in "competition" with themselves as the sole tyre supplier.

By having different contracts with teams, perhaps they are looking at 2007 as a way to reward "their" teams (for using their product when they were in competition with Michelin) before the 2008-10 rules come into force

It wasn't Bridgestone I was referring to in this instance, it was the teams who have used their status to get the 'free' deal. Getting the best deal for your team is a result of having a hyper-competitive outlook.

As for Bridgestone rewarding 'their' teams.....so they should. They were the teams who already had a contract, they were the ones who had 'invested' in Bridgestone. Quid Pro Quo and all that.

But even so, I expect Honda, Renault, Mclaren & BMW are getting 'free' tyres too. Probably even SuperAguri.

[Mikeall]

The teams are lucky Bridgestone didn't decide to pull out at the same time...

Each team did it's own deal with Bridgestone. Teams already with Bridgestone who would have signed contracts based on how they would be expected to perfrom and promote the Bridgestone as well as the number of test days they would devote to tyre testing. Toyota, Williams and Ferrari in particular probably have great contracts with Bridgestone. At one point Toyota were saying Bridgestone should give them more tyres over winter because of their contract. On the other hand, there is not that much the ex-Michelin teams can offer Bridgestone so why should they get the same contract as Ferrari when Bridgestone have just had to double their output of F1 tyres and will probably get less promotion.

[ArrowsFA1]

It wasn't Bridgestone I was referring to in this instance, it was the teams who have used their status to get the 'free' deal. Getting the best deal for your team is a result of having a hyper-competitive outlook.

Sorry 'bout that

[Scuderia ferrari]

Makes sense. Bridgestone are supporting the teams that supported them for years. While I dont agree with it from a sporting point of view, I would do the same for my customers. In fact, we do that already for our loyal customers. A guy who walks off the street and wants the same deal as a customer of mine who has bought from us every month for the last 20 years is not going to get the same deal.

I agree! You expect them not to give back loyalty to those that have helped them and chose their tyres in previace years? Ah, well, too bad for the ex-michelin runners!

My guess was right then- the ones that have brigestones before allready have a slight cushion over the others. I don't really care- as long as ferrari is doing well!

[Nikki Katz]

I expected that Ferrari would have a huge advantage due to the tyres being designed around their car, but even I didn't assume that Bridgestone made different offers to everyone for the same equipment.
I said at the time that with Bridgestone's favouritism and Michelin having no intention of being in a sole tyre series they should really have got a third party for 2007. I guess I still stand by that.