Coulthard ponders tyre issues

The new rule this year that means drivers will have to use just one set of tyres for both qualifying and the race has raised some questions about safety. Drivers will face a penalty if they need to change a set of tyres for anything other than a puncture and David Coulthard thinks this could lead to some risky decisions.

David Coulthard.

Photo by Andy Smerdon.

"When you get a flat-spot on a tyre, whereas in the past you could come in early for a pit-stop, now you will get a penalty which may force a driver to stay out there and try to live with it," he said at the Autosport International Show.

"Only if you have driven a grand prix car at 200mph with a flat-spot do you know what it is like; the car is difficult to control. You can argue that if it is dangerous you should stop, but your competitive side comes out, like on the rugby field when people take some really bruising tackles and play on because their focus is absolute."

Rubens Barrichello recently commented on the same issue, saying that drivers would have to use their heads as much as their feet when racing with only one set of tyres. Coulthard knows the situation will have to be approached differently but it's not a big problem.

"There are some arguments to say that it could be more difficult, but let's wait and see," he commented. "I have raced in formulas where you have one set of tyres and you just have to manage in a different way. Last year there were races where the tyre wear was fine to do a whole GP distance so it is not quite the technical challenge some might think."