Bridgestone announces changes for 2009
26 February 2009
Formula One's sole tyre supplier, Bridgestone, has announced several changes for the upcoming season.
Slicks
Slick tyres return this year for the time since 1997, as opposed to the grooved dry weather tyres seen for the last eleven seasons. Slicks will mean than softer rubber compounds can be used which should result in more mechanic grip on offer for the drivers. To accompany the return of slicks are the major aerodynamic changes which are clearly visible on this year's cars.
Tyre Allocation
Since 2007, drivers have been required to use two compounds of tyres during races; one harder, more durable type and a softer tyre which provides higher levels of grip but for a shorter amount of time. A single white stripe would mark this softer compound.
This year, Bridgestone will break the trend of bringing two consecutive compounds to race meetings (the four compounds being Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft). With a greater difference between the two compounds on offer for each race, we should notice a far greater difference between the performances of the two types over the distance of a Grand Prix.
With the lack of grooves in 2009, the method of distinguishing one compound from another will now be with a green band painted on the sidewall of the softer of the two compounds at each event (as shown above).
In cases of wet weather, Bridgestone will still be supplying both Wet and Extreme Wet tyres at all races.
Tyre compounds for the first five races
Australia - Super Soft, Medium
Malaysia - Soft, Hard
China - Super Soft, Medium
Bahrain - Super Soft, Medium
Spain - Soft, Hard
