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F1 rulers deaf to drivers concerns: Webber
Rookie Mark Webber has accused F1 supremo of being deaf about tyre safety rules. More on F1
Australian Mark Webber has accused Formula One's rulers of being deaf to drivers' concerns about tyre safety.
The Williams driver warned at the Canadian Grand Prix on Thursday that regulations forcing drivers to use one set of tyres for both qualifying and the entire race had made the sport more dangerous.
The rules brought in this season contributed to Kimi Raikkonen's dramatic crash at the European Grand Prix when the McLaren race leader's suspension failed on the last lap because of vibrations caused by uneven tyre wear.
In the past, the Finn would have been able to replace his tyre at a regular refuelling stop.
"I think that unfortunately it won't be the last one we will see," Webber said of an incident that saw Raikkonen's out-of-control car narrowly miss Jenson Button's BAR as he pitched off the track at speed.
"We will see another moment where someone has a problem with a tyre in the race.
"But the drivers' opinions are not very important anyway because we never get listened to. Nothing changes really," added the Australian.
"I personally think that running a race on one set of tyres in some cases will be more dangerous for the drivers...when you're leading the race of course you're not going to stop to finish fifth."
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) sent a letter to teams last week reminding them that cars could be ordered to pit if their tyres gave cause for concern but putting the onus largely on them.
Under the rules, drivers can change damaged tyres but they must make a special stop to do so. Teams must also prove that the tyre was in a dangerous state.
Webber praised the FIA's race director Charlie Whiting for listening to drivers, and said the tyre issue would be discussed again in Canada, but said their opinions counted for little when it came to big changes.
He said the tyre regulation was "a risky game" but conceded that it made the sport more exciting for spectators.
"Kimi's thing was very good for TV, people love that sort of stuff unfortunately. Kimi's suspension blew up and he went backwards past Jenson into turn one, fantastic," he said.
"But at the end of the day there is still a human strapped in the car.
"I don't like to talk about what could happen but it's something that is more risky. Every driver in the pit lane would say it is more risky. The maths are there to state it is more risky to race on one set of tyres."
Webber suggested it would also be better to have a single tyre supplier, rather than the current battle between Michelin and Bridgestone.
