By Steve DAWSON
Who would have thought that instructing Pirelli to make sub-standard tyres, would be the key to more entertaining racing in Formula 1.
The swift degradation of Pirelli rubber has made four impactful and exciting changes to the sport this year.
First of all, there are more pitstops, as neither the hard nor soft tyres can be relied upon for even a two-stop strategy. While some teams will go longer than that from time to time, only those who are desperate will plan their race with such a high-risk strategy.
Secondly, as the cost of pitting can be so high, especially near the end of the race, that the gamble to stay out longer than is conventional, requires a more tentative approach to corners. This encourages more overtaking as those who lost places by pitting earlier can navigate the circuit with far more stability.
Thirdly, these tyres seem to be unpredictable, perhaps they are still a largely unknown quantity. This may settle down as the season goes on but for now, the decision to pit or not to pit remains a big gamble and adds to the mix that sees drivers changing places at joyously-regular intervals.
Fourthly, as the tyres fall apart, the shredded rubber that is cast aside has to accumulate somewhere. Predictably they come to rest on the track, ultimately off the drivers’ line and in the form of little rubber balls called marbles. Go off line to try and overtake or correct a move caused by your weakened tyre strength and you end up in a treacherous pit of slippery rubber balls that can send you into the kitty litter or worse.
Nowhere were these four elements more obviously on display than at Sepang, where two long straights maximised their effect.
In Shanghai, there are two similar straights where the drivers exceed 300 km/h before breaking hard to take corners that ultimately re-orientate them 180 degrees.
From the start of the season Jenson Button was said to have been the man who would best handle Pirelli’s precious wheels and sure enough in a car that wasn’t good enough to win, he still managed a creditable runner-up spot at Sepang. But it’s the unbeaten combination of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel that must be overcome next – easier said than done at the moment,
So, look for a hat-trick of wins from the young German in Shanghai.
Steve Dawson presents the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix on Star Sports this weekend.
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