Tyre choice more important in 2009

Source: http://en.f1- live.com/ f1/en/headlines/ news/detail/ 090128090801. shtml

Tyre choice more important in 2009
FIA seeking bigger difference between compounds

The difference between the performance of the two tyre compounds on offer at Grand Prix this year will be bigger than in 2008, the FIA's technical boss Charlie Whiting has confirmed.

The sport's rules dictate that drivers must use both types of dry-weather compounds during races, but in 2008 the difference between the Bridgestone products was often not large.

Whiting confirmed that F1's official tyre supplier has been asked to exaggerate the difference between the offered compounds in 2009.

"Sometimes, in 2008, this gap was a matter of one or two tenths. We thought it would be better if it was bigger. The Bridgestone engineers are working on that," the Briton said in a media briefing.

Early tests of the 2009 tyres, to be 'slicks' for the first time since 1997, indicate that the difference between the compounds may now be very wide.

Whiting, however, played down the indications of the winter test tracks.

"What happens in winter testing is probably not indicative of what will happen in the warmer conditions of the first four races."

"It's something we'll have to look at, as we certainly don't want too big a difference between the two types of tyres available at each race."

He said his preference for the compound gap at races is 'at least half a second'.