Formula One news

'Sepang is quite severe' - Bridgestone

Bridgestone has warned teams to approach this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix with care, as Formula One's sole tyre manufacturer continues to take non-consecutive compounds of tyres to race weekends throughout the season. The new rule resulted in a huge performance differential between the two compounds in Australia, which should be seen again if it does not rain this weekend.

During a dry race, teams must use both the harder and softer options of tyres available to them for that weekend - in this card Hard and Soft - during the Grand Prix. It is likely this will not be a factor in Malaysia, however, because if a Grand Prix is declared a 'wet race' the compound rule no long applies. Theoretically, there are less uncertainties with rain as the Bridgestone wet tyres are much the same as those seen in 2008, although track conditions might well be trecherous nonetheless.

"Sepang is quite severe on tyres as it has many different corner types and two heavy braking zones after long straights," explained Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone's Director of Motorsport Tyre Development. "This means that the energy going through the tyres over a lap is considerable. Drivers will have to be careful not to lock their brakes, especially with the new generation cars which seem less stable due to the lower levels of downforce. High temperatures are usually a factor in Malaysia, and the later start time for this year's race is when we often see rain, so there are many challenges we could face."

Although the hard tyre will be the significantly more durable option of the two on offer, it still remains slightly modified to that tested by the teams pre-season, as a result of their feedback. "It is not a very big change and I am confident that it will be suitable," Hamashima reassured. "Management of the soft compound is likely to be the biggest challenge of the weekend, as we have not previously brought a soft tyre to Sepang."

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