Front tyres design hurting Schumacher

The peculiar design of this year's front tyres are the main reason why Michael Schumacher has struggled in his return to Formula 1

That is the view of Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn, who reckons Schumacher's driving style is not suited to the Bridgestone rubber.

Schumacher has been overshadowed by team-mate Nico Rosberg this season, the seven-time champion having scored 38 points to Rosberg's 94.

"I think there is a tendency with these front tyres - because they are very peculiar," said Brawn. "They saturate very quickly in terms of providing grip and I think that is probably where we haven't got hold of the situation. We haven't found a good way of using them.

"One of the big things for us this year was the front tyres, as the tyre compounds have changed. And we haven't got on top of that. I think Nico, as part of the evolution of the tyres, is very skilled and very talented at using the tyres.

"I don't think Michael has quite worked out how to get the best from these tyres. Some tracks where the tyres are perhaps not such an issue then he is fine, where you get tracks like this where finding a way of getting the tyres to work is hard.

"I also don't think they reward an aggressive style. Michael's talents are an aggressive-style car that is on the edge of stability and controlling it there. I don't think these tyres reward such an approach, so it will be interesting next year to see what Pirelli come up with."

Brawn believes the situation could change next year, when Pirelli becomes Formula 1's sole supplier and introduces a different tyre design.

"I think the characteristic we have on the front tyre at the moment is quite unusual, in the way because of the construction and choice of compounds, you put a load into it and it doesn't give more grip - it just flat lines, and that isn't very common for a tyre," Brawn added.

"Normally they fade away a bit, but they never flat line in a way this tyre does, so I don't think Pirelli will set out to create a tyre like that, and I am not sure they even know how to create a tyre like that.

"I think it was a response from the FIA to encourage Bridgestone to make tyres with the weight more rearward, and this was all wrapped up in the KERS thing."