Mosley says grooves could stay in F1

FIA president Max Mosley has warned teams that unless planned new aerodynamic rules for 2009 do dramatically cut cornering speeds then a return to slick tyres will be abandoned

Jonathan Noble Dec 13, 2007, 11:02 AM

Slick tyres are pencilled in to replace grooved rubber from the start of 2009, when new rules that should drastically cut downforce are also due to come into force.

But Mosley has made it clear that if the 2009 aero rules are not a success in making cars slower, then the FIA will simply stick with grooved rubber.

"The theory is: much less downforce and more mechanical grip should improve the racing and overtaking," Mosley told Autosport.

"If it turns out that the promised reduction in downforce hasn't happened and the cornering speeds go up, we'll just put the grooves back in.

"We don't want to do that, but sometimes we've been promised by the aerodynamicists a 50 percent reduction in downforce and it doesn't materialize. Then the speeds rocket up again. We've got the answer if we have to."

Formula One teams tried out slick tyres during last week's test at Jerez, with drivers pretty happy with their experience of the experimental Bridgestone rubber.