Heidfeld Argues for More Than One F1 Tyre Supplier

BMW may be on their way out of Formula One – or maybe not, in view of the latest statements from the FIA (see Related News below) – but driver Nick Heidfeld is still arguing for possible improvements to the sport. As he sees it, in an interview with Autosport magazine, Heidfeld believes that more than one tyre supplier could make our favourite black circles “ten times better”. While there have been no major issues with the Bridgestone-supplied rubber this year, Heidfeld says that the solitary tyre supplier regulation leads to “artificial” racing.

He told Autosport journalists Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde at the Singapore Grand Prix, “For me, on the long runs, they lasted OK but for some other guys they went away a lot quicker. We have the prime tyre which is possible to do the race, obviously better, it maybe doesn’t help things but the tyre is not too soft.

“As there is no competition, they could be ten times better, we could have tyres that are softer, offer more grip and last the distance. On top of that, the idea of having to use both compounds is artificial to create something that is not sport.

He concluded, “There is no tyre testing, we have the same tyres for the whole year. What is really surprising is that even now so late in the season sometimes things happen that you didn’t expect. It’s not just for the team; it’s for the whole paddock.”

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