Daniel Ricciardo believes the introduction of wider rear tyres in 2017 will help separate the great drivers from the good drivers.
The F1 Strategy Group agreed to the reintroduction of wider rear tyres as part of its plans to make Formula 1 quicker by several seconds. Therefore a change from 360mm to 420mm tyres will happen after next season.
The Red Bull driver reckons it’s a step in the right direction as increasing mechanical grip, rather than aerodynamics, will not only make it harder to drive because of the greater speeds involved, but because of the concentration needed.
“Mechanical grip’s the big one,” said Ricciardo. “It’s the best way to go because you could still follow close enough through the high-speed stuff.
“Mentally your concentration has to be more in tune so I think you’ll see a bigger separation between the top drivers and, let’s say, the others.
“If it makes the lap times quicker, everything’s going to come at you so much quicker,” he added. “It’ll be more rewarding, I think, for the guys who think they can really do it.”
The Australian did however warn that too many changes could ruin the racing, something he believes is quite good at present.
“Obviously the pace we’re going now is slow-ish, but the racing’s good. We obviously don’t want to take that all away.”
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