FIA Set to Adopt Tougher Stance on Tyres
Formula One teams running tyres that could compromise safety are likely to be black flagged, according a story in this week's Autosport magazine
In the wake of Kimi Raikkonen's race-ending accident at the European Grand Prix, which resulted from a flat-spotted tyre, the FIA are considering a tough line on any team running tyres that are marginal in terms of safety.
A tougher line on black flags would almost certainly have forced McLaren to call Raikkonen at the Nurburgring to change the Finn's flat-spotted, right-front tyre.
An FIA spokesperson said: "Tyre management is an essential part of the team strategy. Tyres have had to last for the entire race distance in the majority of races since the beginning of the World Championship.
"Managing tyres and brakes is a basic driver skill and anyway the regulations do allow teams to change a damaged tyre."
Some drivers and team members have expressed concerns about the safety implications of rules that say tyres can only be changed if damaged.
But FIA president Max Mosley said the suggestions were "nonsense".
"The suggestion that making a set of tyres last a race is dangerous is complete nonsense," said Mosley. "Most F1 races have been run on one set of tyres."
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