BRIDGESTONE ADMIT CONCERNS
Last Updated: Thursday, 18 December , 2003, 12:42
Bridgestone have admitted they are worried about the early pace of the Michelin runners.
An unnamed engineer from a leading team who runs Bridgestone tyres voiced his concerns following the final test of the year at Jerez last week.
He told Autosport magazine: “Looking at the tyres during the Jerez test session I am rather worried for 2004.
“Simple mathematics lead to the conclusion that Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi will not be in a position to answer the challenge of the six Michelin teams.
“Only Ferrari is financially in the position to have one car ready for tyre testing at any test, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi will have to be very cautious with their budgets.”
BAR’s defection to Michelin at the end of the season means Michelin now provide tyres for six teams.
The engineer added: “Williams BMW, McLaren Mercedes, Renault, Toyota and BAR Honda in the other camp are all capable of running a tyre-test car all the time.
“More kilometres means more data and more data leads to better tyres.”
At the test in Jerez last week the McLaren of Pedro de la Rosa – the new MP4-19 – finished the session over two seconds quicker than the Ferrari of Luca Badoer.
The Michelin-shod teams completed a total of 2720 laps compared with the 517 laps of the Bridgestone teams.
But Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello said it was too early to start judging the pace of either make of tyres.
He told Autosport: “We still don’t know how much Michelin will improve, but progress last year was impressive.
“We have to see if they make similar progress in 2004.
“We still don’t know how much we will improve too – everything is still very open.”
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Vain ollaan Bridgestonella "hieman huolestuneita". Paniikki olisi oikea sana!
Ferrarilla taitaa olla edessä todella raskas vuosi. Mestaruuksien uusiminen tulee olemaan työn ja tuskan takana, ellei kohta saada vauhtia rengastesteihin.
Ferrarin ainut toivo on se, että uusi auto on yhtä ylivoimainen kuin F2002 vastustajiin nähden ja se, että McLaren ja Williams eivät saa uusia autojaan heti täyteen iskuun kauden alkuun, kuten kävi Williamsille kuluneella kaudella.
Ei Schumikaan voittamaton ole, jos kalusto ei toimi täydellisesti.
Last Updated: Thursday, 18 December , 2003, 12:42
Bridgestone have admitted they are worried about the early pace of the Michelin runners.
An unnamed engineer from a leading team who runs Bridgestone tyres voiced his concerns following the final test of the year at Jerez last week.
He told Autosport magazine: “Looking at the tyres during the Jerez test session I am rather worried for 2004.
“Simple mathematics lead to the conclusion that Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi will not be in a position to answer the challenge of the six Michelin teams.
“Only Ferrari is financially in the position to have one car ready for tyre testing at any test, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi will have to be very cautious with their budgets.”
BAR’s defection to Michelin at the end of the season means Michelin now provide tyres for six teams.
The engineer added: “Williams BMW, McLaren Mercedes, Renault, Toyota and BAR Honda in the other camp are all capable of running a tyre-test car all the time.
“More kilometres means more data and more data leads to better tyres.”
At the test in Jerez last week the McLaren of Pedro de la Rosa – the new MP4-19 – finished the session over two seconds quicker than the Ferrari of Luca Badoer.
The Michelin-shod teams completed a total of 2720 laps compared with the 517 laps of the Bridgestone teams.
But Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello said it was too early to start judging the pace of either make of tyres.
He told Autosport: “We still don’t know how much Michelin will improve, but progress last year was impressive.
“We have to see if they make similar progress in 2004.
“We still don’t know how much we will improve too – everything is still very open.”
---
Vain ollaan Bridgestonella "hieman huolestuneita". Paniikki olisi oikea sana!
Ferrarilla taitaa olla edessä todella raskas vuosi. Mestaruuksien uusiminen tulee olemaan työn ja tuskan takana, ellei kohta saada vauhtia rengastesteihin.
Ferrarin ainut toivo on se, että uusi auto on yhtä ylivoimainen kuin F2002 vastustajiin nähden ja se, että McLaren ja Williams eivät saa uusia autojaan heti täyteen iskuun kauden alkuun, kuten kävi Williamsille kuluneella kaudella.
Ei Schumikaan voittamaton ole, jos kalusto ei toimi täydellisesti.