Sergio Perez issues F1 with "dangerous" blanket warning as drivers' lives at risk

Singapore Grand Prix

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Perez issues F1 with "dangerous" blanket warning as drivers' lives at risk

F1 plans to completely ban tyre blankets for 2024

Sam Hall

Thursday 29 September 2022 18:02

Sergio Perez believes F1 is putting its drivers at risk by reducing tyre blanket temperatures after Pirelli introduced new compounds this year.

F1 shifted from 13- to 18-inch wheels ahead of this season while simultaneously lowering the temperatures at which tyres can be stored in the garage.

In 2021, teams were permitted to keep the front tyres at 100 degrees Celsius and the rears at 80. The figure this term is 70 for all.

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As part of its push to achieve net carbon zero status by 2030, F1 plans to outlaw tyre blankets altogether by 2024.

Asked if the lower-profile tyres have been more complicated to get into the working window, Perez said: "For me, the only concern is the warm-up when you are behind the safety car.

"With these low blanket temperatures that we are running, and for next year they are trying to go lower, I feel they are putting the driver at risk.

"There are some situations and scenarios where it can become quite dangerous - cold track temperatures and safety cars and so on.

"It can be a bit of a risk for some drivers, so that is the only real concern I have with these tyres at the moment."

Not all drivers share the Mexican's appraisal of the situation, however, with Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll claiming the tyres are simply different to what had been used before.

"The tyres have a lower working range so it's just harder pushing on the out laps generally," added Stroll.

"I don't think it's more difficult [than previous years], I just think it's different. The front tyres seem a lot weaker so it just behaves quite differently and takes some getting used to.

"It's just going to get better every race that we understand the tyres."