Last year, the Japanese manufacturer had chosen to white-paint a grooved line of the tires to differentiate it. However, due to the introduction of slick tires this season, a new method of distinguishing the two compounds was needed.
“This season, we will supply to all Formula One Grand Prix events two types of dry tire with different compounds (rubber hardness) and two types of wet tire with different tread depths. In order to differentiate the tires within the two categories of tire, the softer dry tire and the heavy-rain-use (extreme wet weather) tire will be indicated in green lines,” read the official statement from Bridgestone.
In addition, Bridgestone's director of development Hirohide Hamashima revealed that the Japanese manufacturer has also changed its strategy in terms of tires' allocation per race weekend. As reported by GMM news agency, the two compounds used for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix will be “super-soft” and “medium”, instead of “super-soft” and “soft”.
The bigger difference between the two compounds as compared to the previous years will be implemented to ensure a better show on track and more exciting racing.
“We have changed our allocation strategy so that we can bring non-consecutive allocations to races. We hope that the change in allocations gives competitors a good challenge and the fans entertaining racing,” said Hamashima.
Here are the compounds for the first 5 races of 2009, as confirmed by a statement on Bridgestone's official site.
ING Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne): Super Soft, Medium
Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang): Soft, Hard
Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai): Super Soft, Medium
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir): Super Soft, Medium
Gran Premio de España Telefónica (Barcelona): Soft, Hard
Google News