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• Lewis Hamilton wants Pirelli to produce a more durable tyre for F1.
• Hamilton wants drivers to be involved with the tyre production process.
• Both Mercedes drivers suffered tyre failures at the recent British GP.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Wheels24's Formula 1 content partner, GMM, shared an article on Lewis Hamilton wanting Pirelli to produce a better racing tyre. Wheels24's Charlen Raymond adds his thoughts to the F1 champion's comments at the end of the article.
Lewis Hamilton wants Pirelli to create better tyres for Formula 1.
At Silverstone recently, the six-time world champion won the race with only three tyres intact, following a spate of wear issues among the field.
And then in Barcelona, he won again but only after carefully managing tyre wear by reducing his pace.
Hamilton is quoted as saying by motorsport-magazin.com: "Right now we're doing a lot of management, and I don't think the fans want that. It's not what the drivers want either. Looking ahead, we really have to put a lot of pressure on Pirelli."
Hamilton says F1 had to push ahead with the 2019 tyres this year because Pirelli "didn't do a great job" developing the rejected new tyres for 2020. We need a better tyre that offers us more grip, better safety and that enables us to deliver better racing for the fans," said the Mercedes driver.
Hamilton says the drivers also want to be part of that process.
Just stop nagging!
Wheels24's Charlen Raymond writes: Hamilton can be very dramatic the day he puts on his drama shoes, and his latest comments are evidence of that. At Silverstone, several weeks back, the tyres on his Mercedes race car gave in because the team overextended the tyre life. Both Hamilton and team mate Valtteri Bottas suffered tyre failures, but it was at no fault of Pirelli.
Each tyre compound has a certain life expectancy and pushing the tyre beyond that is asking for trouble.
But Hamilton is looking for an easy way out on this, because instead of raising a hand and admitting to getting the strategy wrong, he and his Mercedes team are putting the blame squarely on Pirelli. And now he's bringing the fans into the equation.
READ: Exploding Pirelli saga - F1 blowouts came after Merc overextended tyre life
His comments that fans do not want to see drivers do tyre management is right, but not for the reasons he's blowing his horn over. True fans of the sport want to see more pit stops take place during a race and not have more than 50% of a Grand Prix being completed on a single set of tyres. Tyre management is a thorn in the fan's side because instead of going all-out racing, drivers are told by their teams to preserve the tyres.
That's total BS and part of the reason why F1 is a laughingstock in motorsport. Tyre management has become the primary concern instead of racing at full speed and making a second or third pit stop. And Mercedes should be the last team to complain, given that they can eke out a 30-second gap in the blink of an eye and make a pit stop without losing track position.
Lewis Hamilton complains too much and has become too accustomed to winning the easy way. And now he wants things to be even easier? Come on, Lewis, keep your toys to yourself and leave Pirelli alone - they're doing a damn fine job. Perhaps you should talk to your team about not stuffing up your near-perfect strategies. Or better yet, be open to more pit stops!
Do you agree with Hamilton's tyre statements? And how would you improve racing in F1? Please Email us.
