Hamilton warns F1 putting drivers' lives at risk with new proposal after testing

26 February 2023 , 11:16

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Lewis Hamilton has warned that banning tyre blankets will put driver's lives at risk (Image: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at proposals to outlaw tyre blankets, branding it both "dangerous" and "pointless" after being one of the drivers involved in no-blanket testing.

Formula 1 are considering banning tyre blankets in a move to increase sustainability and reduce costs as teams use a huge amount of energy to heat a car's tyres in a bid to increase grip ahead of each race, or before they leave the pits.

Ahead of a potential vote on outlawing tyre blankets, Hamilton has been among the drivers completing dry weather no-blanket running for the sport's official tyre supplier Pirelli and he believes a ban would put driver's lives at risk.

He also rejected claims it would make the sport more sustainable, telling reporters: "It is dangerous. I have tested them, and there is going to be an incident at some stage. So on safety grounds, 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 will be more sustainable and more green, but we are using more fuel to get more temperature into the tyres.

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"What is more concerning is that when you go out, the car is skating around, it is very twitchy, and if someone else is on tyres that are working, you could easily collide with them. It is a pointless exercise."

Tyre blankets are used to heat a car's tyres ahead of a race and before they leave the pits to increase grip (Peter Fox/Getty Images)

Hamilton is not the only driver who has criticised the plans, with Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz echoing his concerns. "I still don't understand why F1 are moving away from blankets, because for me it makes no sense," he said.

"You are burning more fuel, more tyres. Even on sustainability, I just don't understand the philosophy. Also there are risks with these lower ride height cars."

Reacting to Hamilton's comments, Pirelli's Motorsport Director Mario Isola said: "We are following a plan with the FIA and F1. We are in the early stages and after Silverstone there will be discussion with all the parties involved."

Matthew Cooper