Formula One news

Massa hopes to keep tyre warmers next season

Felipe Massa has joined a large group of drivers who is hoping to keep the tyre warmers next season. According to the proposed rules by the FIA the slicks will return in 2009 but tyre warmers will be banned. According to Massa the blankets are mainly important from a safety point of view.

"At the moment, there is a suggestion that next year, we would not be allowed to use our tyre warmers - those blankets you see wrapped around the tyres when we sit in the garage or on the grid," Massa said. "In terms of performance, but also more importantly, safety, the tyres were of course at their best if they had been in the blankets. When I tried them without it was very difficult to drive on the "out" lap, even though it was not a particularly cold day. So never mind the performance element, I think the blankets are mainly important from the safety point of view. "

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