Q & A with Bridgestone's Hamashima

Hirohide Hamashima - Director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development: "From the start of Q2 there were many marbles from the track, as is now well documented. The temperature was higher, so the tyre graining was much, much better than yesterday. We've had no graining and no blistering."

Q. The track operator has said the track break-up could be related to using grooved tyres?

HH: "I don't think so."

Q. What about the super-soft compound?

HH: "Of course. Especially in 2006, when we were competing with Michelin, when the tyre had much more grip. We saw many, many marbles then, and when the tyre grip is higher we see these marbles from the tarmac. The temperature rose, so the tyre was working very, very well. When the tyre is very sticky, it affects the marbling."

Q. Could you agree, with the FIA, to use only the soft compound tyre and not the super-soft in the race?

HH: "We saw last year, even with the soft compound, that it made many marbles. I believe F1 tyre grip, combined with the downforce, is enough to make the marbles. Even if we brought our hard compound here, if the temperature was high then the marbles would appear."

Q. Are the problem areas confined to those that have been resurfaced from last year?

HH: "The small patches of repair [work] have maybe not been so good for the marbles. Especially at Turn 10. This area needs repair."

Q. Would it be better if the whole track was resurfaced, rather than parts of it being repaired?

HH: "I think so. The different boundaries of the surfaces is not so good."

Q. What can you do about it?

HH: "Unfortunately, we can't do anything."

Q. What is your prediction about how teams will approach the race in terms of tyre choice?

HH: "Until today teams didn't have enough degradation data. Maybe the majority of them will take the soft compound first and check the laptimes and wear rate, and then decide on second and third tyres."

Q. With parts of the track breaking up is there an increased risk of tyre damage in the race?

HH: "Very. We've not seen anything yet, and I hope it will not happen. We have improved the super-soft from last year, so its compound is a little bit stronger. I hope even with so many marbles on the circuit, the wear rate will not be a disaster station."

Q. But you can't be sure about that?

HH: "Not sure, of course, no."