Honda figures expect more overtaking

With Bridgestone's compound choices for 2007 being slower and harder than before, there are hopes that the new tyre characteristics could increase overtaking opportunities - especially on the entry to corners.

Speaking at the launch of Honda's 2007 F1 challenger in Barcelona today, chief engineer Jacky Eeckelaert said he believed the racing would be improved because of the tyre situation.

"The tyres have been produced to be strong, and it's still racing tyres, but with less grip," he said.

"So braking distances are decreased (longer), cornering speeds are reduced, and especially with the braking distance reduced (longer) there should be a possibility to have more overtaking than last year."

A new rule that forces teams to run both hard and soft compound tyres in races this year will also further mix things up, claims Jenson Button.

"We'll be using a harder tyre, which does change the braking distances, and also makes it a little bit easier to make mistakes," said the Briton.

"Also, there might be the possibility that we use both types of tyres in the race, which will mix up the grid and make for more exciting races.

"It will take a few races for people to understand which direction to go with the tyres. So I'm sure that will make the racing a little bit more exciting, which is positive for Formula One."

Eeckelaert also believes that the 19,000rpm rev limit introduced this year will be a factor in closing up the grids.

"It's true that having all the engines with a rev limit of 19,000rpm probably the engine power will be closer between different engines," he said. "Also with everybody on the same tyres, I think global lap times will be closer.

"So I would not be surprised to have a much closer grid like the first ten cars on the same second. To me, the field will be more packed than before, also the strategies will have a much bigger influence in the race."