Michelin Warns Teams Over Turn 13

Williams driver Mark Webber suffered a tyre failure yesterday in practice, and after investigating the cause Michelin found the kerb stone at Turn 13 was cutting through the tyre as the driver was returning to the track after driving over it. Some drivers have been taking a driving line that runs over the kerb through that coner.

Michelin's motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier told Autosport-Atlas the failure was similar to that at Spa-Francorchamps last year - where several drivers had punctures in their rear right wheel - although he said the damage in Istanbul was more severe.

"Investigating what happened to Mark Webber's tyre, we found out that it's the kerb at Turn 13," Dupasquier said. "It is even worse than Spa last year, because the tyre's rim is touching the concrete when they return to the track.

"So we sent a note to the FIA and warned our partners that their drivers must stay on the road - not drive over the kerb.

"The complete right tyre should remain on track, or they risk a puncture."