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Pit Stop

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.

The good news for this weekend's race in Valencia is that Bridgestone is bringing the same type of tyres as in Montreal - super soft and medium. The bad news is that it isn't likely to have the same effect. Firstly, the weather is going to be much hotter, which will help with grip. Secondly, the tarmac on which the cars will race is very different. The Spanish circuit is much less smooth, which should help get some temperature into the rubber.

The high-speed Silverstone circuit has already been allocated soft and hard tyres for its July race, but the following race in Germany could see the super softs back and giving the teams food for thought.

The tyre situation now is so much more conducive to good racing than the bad old days of the 'tyre wars', when Bridgestone and Michelin battled each other. Teams were signed to one or the other and it could be a long grind if your chosen company was struggling. One outfit producing the same tyres for all teams on the grid puts the onus back on the teams and the drivers and their clever use of strategy.

Next year there will be a new tyre provider, Pirelli, in the paddock after Bridgestone's withdrawal from Formula One. The deal was announced yesterday and let's hope the new company continues to provide the black magic for red-hot racing.

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