FIA to control gap between compounds

FIA race director Charlie Whiting says the governing body is to make sure there is not a huge difference between the two compound in Bridgestone tyres to be used this year

As it was the case in 2008, drivers will have to use both compounds during races, and there have been fears during winter testing that the gap between the softer and the harder rubber is too big.

Whiting said it was in the sport's best interest that the compounds are significantly different, but he made it clear that the FIA will look at the situation to keep the situation under control.

"What happens in winter testing is probably not indicative of what will happen in the warmer conditions of the first four races," Whiting said on Tuesday.

"It's something we'll have to look at, as we certainly don't want too big a difference between the two types of tyres available at each race. This said, I think it would be to everyone's benefit if there were a slightly bigger gap."

He added: "We wanted to have a bigger difference between them. Sometimes, in 2008, this gap was a matter of one or two tenths. We thought it would be better if it was bigger. The Bridgestone engineers are working on that."

Whiting admitted that the ideal gap between the two types of tyres would be around 0.5 seconds per lap.

"My personal opinion is at least half-a-second. But it's only a personal opinion. Sometimes, in 2008, the difference between the two types of tyres was negligible wasn't it? One couldn't see the difference between the two, really."