Russell warns F1 "there will be crashes" if controversial rule change sanctioned

23 June 2023 , 20:58

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George Russell has given a warning against a tyre blanket ban (Image: Getty Images)

George Russell has claimed that “there will be crashes” should a controversial ban on tyre blankets be brought into force.

There have been several attempts to outlaw the blankets that have been used since the 1980s with the latest attempt potentially being introduced for the 2024 season. Initially, they were used to help tyres get up to temperature much sooner than would have been possible otherwise.

F1’s tyre supplier Pirelli has been testing new rubber whilst backing a ban in order to aid sustainability and reduce costs. However, some drivers are against new proposals with some fears that the lower temperature of the tyres will lead to far less grip when racing.

Mercedes driver Russell is one of those and shared a stark warning over the potential consequences of a ban being implemented. He said: “If I’m being totally honest, I don’t think we as a sport are at a position yet to bring these tyres into a racing scenario.

“I would be very concerned for all the mechanics in the pit lane during a pitstop, I’d be very concerned for the out lap from a race in cold conditions. There will be crashes, I have no doubt about it.

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“And I think there’s a lot of work, expense, development going into these tyres. I feel like that could be put elsewhere.”

Russell’s Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton is also against the new proposals and shared his damning thoughts. “I think it’s dangerous,” he said to Autosport.

Tyre blankets could be banned next season (Getty Images)

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“I’ve tested the no blankets, and there is going to be an incident at some stage. So, I think it is the wrong decision.

“You have to drive multiple laps to get the tyres to work. The whole argument is that taking away the blankets is going [to be] more sustainable and more green, but in actual fact we just burn more fuel to get the temperature into the tyres.

“The more concern is when you go out: you are skating around and it is very twitchy. If someone else is on tyres that are working, you can easily collide with them. So, it is a pointless exercise.”

Amid the opposition for the tyre blanket ban, there has also been ongoing testing for Pirelli’s new style of rubber. Blanket-free wet tyres were introduced earlier in the campaign and were raced for the first time at the Monaco Grand Prix last month.

Drivers have also been testing the dry-tyre versions. Russell was part of the clutch of drivers to test the tyres in Barcelona and publicly outlined his concerns in the immediate aftermath of the race.

Daniel Orme