Tyres.Those black rims aren't always given the attention they deserve by Formula One fans. Heading back to Europe after a sojourn in North America, they are likely to be subject to much closer scrutiny. The Canadian Grand Prix was great, and that is mostly down to the tyres and their degradation. Bridgestone has promised a much more aggressive approach in Valencia for this weekend's European Grand Prix in an effort to recreate that excitement.
The tyre brinkmanship in Canada started in qualifying when Lewis Hamilton became the first non-Red Bull car to take pole position all season. To pip Mark Webber though, he had to use the softer of the two tyres on offer from Bridgestone. They might give more grip, but they degrade much more quickly than the harder compounds. The top cars have to start the race on the tyres they qualified with, but have to use both types on offer during the race.
That left the Red Bulls on the harder tyres, quietly confident that given a few laps they would breeze past their rivals. McLaren were hoping the safety car would come out in the first few laps enabling them to get a fairly pain-free pit stop in.
Of course none of the above happened, but the deteriorating tyres were crucial to the results and the entertainment. The cool weather played its part, as did the smooth resurfaced parts of the track that stubbornly refused to give grip or heat for the tyres. The fact the harder tyres didn't hold up as well as teams thought added to the constantly changing picture.
It was hard on drivers like Mark Webber, who thought he had a shot at winning the race, only to be reeled in and passed by a procession of cars as his tyres 'went off' spectacularly. With so many drivers on different strategies it was hard to keep up with the changes at the top of the order, but there weren't many dull moments as a result.
Bridgestone has promised to be more aggressive in its tyre selections for the rest of the season. It is after a repeat of the excitement of Canada by bringing the super-soft tyre to as many of the remaining races as possible. The faster tyre degradation should add some spice to affairs, but Bridgestone has to ensure that doesn't mean the rubber blisters, with the attendant danger of blow-outs.