Bridgestone wants 'red' tyre rule in F1

The Japanese manufacturer is evaluating ways of ensuring that tyres remain a major talking point when it becomes F1's sole rubber manufacturer from the start of next season.

Sources have confirmed that one of the proposals that is being openly discussed is for a radical shake-up of the way tyres are distributed and used by the teams.

The plan is for teams to be supplied with both a hard compound and softer 'option' tyre from the start of practice.

But rather than doing what happens at the moment, with teams choosing one of the compounds to take through to qualifying and the race, the teams will have to use both sets in the race.

This will open up the possibility of varied strategies in the races, with some teams choosing to use the softer tyre at the start of the race, with others holding back until later in the Grand Prix.

It is understood that Bridgestone will follow what it did in Champ Car where, as the series' sole supplier, it had the idea of differentiating the tyres with a red band on the sidewall of the option tyres. This will help fans and commentators understand what is happening in the race.

As well as increasing excitement and keeping tyres an important factor, sources have said that the other positive factor behind such a move is that it would reduce the amount of wasted tyres Bridgestone produce.

The company wants to try and avoid the expense of supplying two different compounds to all 11 teams, and then find half of those tyres are useless by Saturday afternoon.

Although it is understood that talks for such a rule change are at an advanced stage, Bridgestone admits that nothing is guaranteed yet.

Bridgestone's Hirohide Hamashima told autosport.com: "There are lots of discussions taking place at the moment about the supply of tyres next year, but nothing has been decided."

It is hoped that next year's tyre rules can be framed soon, to allow Bridgestone enough time to produce rubber for winter testing that is close to the type that will be raced with in 2007.