Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, confirmed on Thursday that tyre blankets are set to be dropped from 2021 as well as switching from the current 13-inch wheels to 18-inches, a move that came as a surprise to team bosses.
"I wasn’t aware of that. That’s new," said Renault's Bob Bell, a comment that was echoed by Force India's Andrew Green, Williams' Paddy Lowe and Red Bull's Pierre Waché during the customary Friday press conference in Germany.
However all agreed that the ban on tyre blankets could prove beneficial for the sport, as it will mean the tyre supplier will need to develop a tyre capable of a quicker warm-up, as well as operating in a wider window, unlike the current Pirelli range which struggles when its cold and blisters when it overheats.
"I’m sure that a set of tyre requirements from the supplier can be agreed upon that will deliver tyres that will be capable of being operated safely, without blankets," said Bell. "Plenty of other racing series do it so I don’t see any reason why we can’t in Formula 1.
"If those specifications for the tyre allow us to get around some of the limitations that we face in operating the tyres at the minute, pressures, cambers, all those things, and make that task less onerous on the teams and produce more consistent performance throughout the life of the tyres, then I think that’s all to the good, and I’m sure that is possible to do."
However Bell cautioned that it wouldn't be an easy job for the tyre manufacturer, adding: "It takes time to be sure what those requirements should be and to give the tyre manufacturer, whoever it is, time to develop the tyres. That’s not the work of five minutes."
Lowe agreed, but admitted it would take away from the drama of the sport.
"I quite like the spectacle of a grid with all the equipment, including tyre blankets. I think that’s part of the impression that Formula 1 gives of being a very technical sport, the pinnacle of motor racing, so I would miss it from that point of view.
"But on the other hand, if you’re reflecting on what Bob says, if it drives us towards tyres that have a much wider window to operate in, that could be a good thing.
"I know at the same time they are talking about moving qualifying perhaps to formats where there are less laps, more criticality around doing single laps and again, if that’s around tyres that aren’t prepared with blankets that would drive us towards tyres with a wider window which I think would be a good thing for the sport."
Waché was keen to highlight the difficulty the manufacturer will have in developing a tyre that is capable of doing just that.
"On the technical side for the manufacturer it will be quite difficult, even more when you see the evolution of pressure you have without blankets, starting at 13 degrees, finishing at more than 100 degrees. With the energy we are putting in the tyre in Formula 1 is higher than other categories, then for sure it will be a big challenge for the tyre manufacturer.
"As an engineer, when it’s challenging, it’s quite interesting. I’m pretty sure we can find tricks and some possibilities on the car to use and to operate the tyre in the best way but it will be a big challenge for the manufacturer."
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