Ecclestone: Less rubber on track

**janneppi** · 29th November 2007, 12:46

Apparently Bernard Ecclestone was talking to Auto Motor un Sport and suggested that organisers would clean the track surface before race on sunday to get rid of the rubber stuck on the racing line.

He also would like to se harder tyre compounds.

The gist of these changes would be to allow more passing opportunities by removing the clean line making it easier to use more of the track.

IMO it could work in the early parts of the race but would make passing just as hard it's now in the later part of the race.

**passmeatissue** · 29th November 2007, 13:15

Originally Posted by janneppi

Apparently Bernard Ecclestone was talking to Auto Motor un Sport and suggested that organisers would clean the track surface before race on sunday to get rid of the rubber stuck on the racing line.

He also would like to se harder tyre compounds.

The gist of these changes would be to allow more passing opportunities by removing the clean line making it easier to use more of the track.

IMO it could work in the early parts of the race but would make passing just as hard it's now in the later part of the race.

It ties in with what Trulli's been saying about graining on grooved tyres - the graining generating the marbles.

Worth a try, I would say. But hard slicks would suit some teams more than others...

**Ari** · 29th November 2007, 13:36

I think this is something they should have been doing long before now. Really, considering how big the sport it and how much money is spent, the track should be cleaned each day or at least before the race on sunday.

**Bagwan** · 29th November 2007, 14:01

Well , duh , Bernie .
I walked the Montreal track in '04 , and was amazed at the amount of marbles on the surface , some of which looked like they had been there since the inaugural event .
Cleaning the track , simply so it can all be utilized , should , in my opinion , be job #1 for the organizers . One pass around the track for a herd of sweeper/sucker trucks before the F1 guys take to the track in each stage of the event weekend should not be too hard to manage , and ensure that the whole track could be used .

Reducing the track to one lane does not promote passing .

As for tire compounds , I want to see one really hard compound slick , and one rain tire .
No choices . Here's your tire . Deal with it .
Get the best you can get out of it .

I'm with Bernie here , solidly on both counts .

**V12** · 29th November 2007, 14:45

My two cents - I think a simple way to achieve harder compound tyres would be to ban refuelling, maintain the current pit lane speed limits, and have a NASCAR-type ruling (the only time I'll ever use those words!) limiting the number of people that can be working on a car, so that say only two crew members can be responsible for changing all four tyres.

This way, without silly grooves, the even sillier one-tyre ruling (BS by name, BS by nature), or the open-to-interpretation no "tyre stops" rule of '05 (punctures??) tyre manufacturer(s) will find it prudent to build harder compounds - because softer tyres that require more frequent (lengthy) pit stops will not be advantageous over a race distance.

Of course - then there is the school of thought that tyres need to have MORE grip, and trim the downforce to aid racing, something which I don't necessarily disagree with...

**Easy Drifter** · 29th November 2007, 16:05

You have to be very careful with compounds. Too hard a compound and you will end up with more marbles and graining! With a very hard compound there could be more sliding and wheelspin resulting in the overheating of the tires. I am sure the engineers would sort it out in time but one compound would not work at all tracks because of temp. and surface construction. No matter what you do there is a catch and sometimes a real surprise.

**Bagwan** · 29th November 2007, 19:19

Originally Posted by Easy Drifter

You have to be very careful with compounds. Too hard a compound and you will end up with more marbles and graining! With a very hard compound there could be more sliding and wheelspin resulting in the overheating of the tires. I am sure the engineers would sort it out in time but one compound would not work at all tracks because of temp. and surface construction. No matter what you do there is a catch and sometimes a real surprise.

Of course , Drifter , you'd put out skins that were as far from being prone to graining as is possible , but having them cope on the same tires is more the point .
Avoiding that graining is part of the game , and having to do just that , from Austria to Bahrain , would show some skill on the part of both the engineer and the driver .

It shouldn't be easy . It's F1 , for crying out loud .
I want them to have trouble managing the tires .

**leopard** · 30th November 2007, 04:30

Picking up some 3 kg rubber from asphalt may become essential for a champion.

**ShiftingGears** · 30th November 2007, 04:43

Harder tyres + huge slicks = good for racing.

**Dazz9908** · 30th November 2007, 07:55

I remember the First ever Hungarian GP,
The then Communist Government, had the Army Sweep the track after end of every day’s practice.

The teams and Drivers complained about the no ruber on the racing line causing the tyres to Blister and the track taking most of the day to grip up!
So I hate to say it but Bernie maybe on to something here.
Who can look after the Tyres the best over each Stint.
I prefer no Tyre Stops, it user to also mark of a good driver who could go fast, look after his whole car, and come from further down the grid, Pole Was never a certainty for a win as much as it is now!