I'd like to start a discussion on the suitability of this season's tyre suppliers: there are two choices - 1 mediocre, 1 terrible. Not Terrible [1], but in practice really quite Bad [4/10].
I get that there is an important choice to be made about normal/partner/works contracts and tyre supplier themselves (for which the whole of Div1/2 and I think pretty much every Junior team has come to the same conclusion), but aren't new teams are automatically set up with the 'entry' tyres?
Does this mean a new team joining now will have hard tyres at what? 30% grip? Less? And softs at...50% for one lap, but 30% after about 3 laps? Particularly given that the 'cliff' starts around 30% anyway, it must be completely dispiriting to have a whole season stretching out before you knowing that your tyres are absolute rubbish and you'll probably need to make 6 stops to give your drivers even a little bit of hope that they won't fall off the track.
There is already a pace difference between Hard/Medium/Soft, so why do they also need to start at different %grip levels? Make the pace difference larger and have them all start at the same % - Pointer Hards starting at 50% and degrading slower than softs would go part-way to compensate for the terrible grip they have overall. Or preferably not having a supplier that has such a terrible performance be the default for new teams.
Although I don't think this should be a priority, as I wrote some time ago, i agree that tyres could be an aspect of the game that could be expanded in a more complex way. The goal should be to have more varied race strategies, maybe adding the variable of track temperature, which affects performance and tyre wear.
New teams are not automatically set up with contracts, so they could choose either. I do agree they're garbage this season, but that'll make for something a bit different, so no huge issue.
I do agree with both that tyres could do with a rework too. I don't mind how, personally i think the hards need to wear out slower, but all 3 tyre compounds are used during the races by teams, so the wider community thinks they're fairly balanced. I'm sure Frank will find a way when he gets to it. But as for this season, it's just going to be slightly more pitstops than normal.
Ah - my mistake. If others don't think this is an issue I will shut up, but I do think tyres at 30% grip are a bit nonsensical - you'd take something back to the shop if it was performing that badly, no matter how cheap it was.
...plus it seems like everything has had its customary massive week 2 boost, so no longer an issue (although I expect it's a bug)?
Looks like tyre carnage this week - all compounds can do a max of 7/8 laps before exploding - time to stop testing to save 20 sets for the race for 2 cars!
Noticed tyre explosions int he junior races too - does something need an urgent tweak?
