They are designed for the track specifically. So a track with fast high load right hand bends will mean they make the outside tyre that takes all the pounding with a stronger sidewall on the outside to the inside tyre. 

Did I hear correctly the teams run between 15 and 18 psi? Seems very low

They are designed for the track specifically. So a track with fast high load right hand bends will mean they make the outside tyre that takes all the pounding with a stronger sidewall on the outside to the inside tyre. 

Thanks, that seems to explain it.

Did I hear correctly the teams run between 15 and 18 psi? Seems very low

RB run closer to 15, others closer to 19 from what I can gather. What is it low compared to? It is a F1 car

If that's measured cold than it's OK. Has to be low to compensate for gas expansion with temp increase - cold tyres ride height is so low cars bottom out. Many accidents happened after Safety Car restart where cars went straight ahead due to bottoming out in a turn. Running low pressure means that the tyres heat up more and mmore compensation is needed. That's what I think at least

On unidirectional slicks:-

 

I'm not privy to any specialised information about how Pirelli make F1 tyres, but unidirectional tyres are normally constructed to take higher linear loads in one direction than in the other.

Ken, nothing to do with the correct tread pattern orientation to correctly disperse water, at least with road tyres and F1 inters and wets?

Ah so at race pace I'd assume they'd be double?

Ken, nothing to do with the correct tread pattern orientation to correctly disperse water, at least with road tyres and F1 inters and wets?

Most, if not all, treaded unidirection tyres "work better" one way round for water dispersion yes. My point was just that it's entirely possible for a tyre to be unidirectional for purely construction reasons. After all, in the case of an F1 car it can only manage about 1G acceleration, but peaks of 5 to 6G under braking.

Slightly OT but I don't like directional tyres on road cars. They tramline more plus you can't swap them round. 

Ah so at race pace I'd assume they'd be double?

I do not know the figures but it does increase significantly - doubt it would double but they gain few good centimeters of ride height with tyres within operating temps

 

Most, if not all, treaded unidirection tyres "work better" one way round for water dispersion yes. My point was just that it's entirely possible for a tyre to be unidirectional for purely construction reasons. After all, in the case of an F1 car it can only manage about 1G acceleration, but peaks of 5 to 6G under braking.

The biggest forces as you rightly pointed out are during cornering and then braking. Acceleration figures I got is 1.45g up to 124 mph (according to WiKi) but I am sure past 60 mph that figure peaks a bit higher, when aero starts to work. I am pretty certain that, like in all engineering, tyres are designed for the highest loads experienced i.e. 6 gs under cornering/braking so if any directional bias is employed it should be in the direction of the highest acting forces so I agree with you, if unidirectional structural design is employed then swapping tyres would nullify it and make it very prone to damage.

If my psi goes up on a track day then I'm sure the F1 cars will jump up a fair amount. 

, if unidirectional structural design is employed then swapping tyres would nullify it and make it very prone to damage.

And yet at least two articles I've read on this matter say the teams switch them around because they've found it helps with durability. Go figure!

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Lewis done a great job yesterday, lets hope he has the car to bring it home!

Lewis done a great job yesterday, lets hope he has the car to bring it home!

The Merc doesn't seem to like the warm weather and softer compound combination :-(

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The Merc doesn't seem to like the warm weather and softer compound combination :-(

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Another disapointing day. The loti went well today and again everything seemed to fall into place again for vettel :(

Spoilt again as i tried not to hear the result to watch the highlights on Poverty BBC.

but heard the result mid afternoon.

 

Just seen the wheel off Webbers car hit someone, 

it is almost at the stage that pit stops need to be a proper stop of hold them for 5-10 seconds minimum and then have only safe cars going out.

(or if a team makes a careless mistake which results in a Wheel coming off, as some teams have, 

then the other team car could be Black Flagged and removed from the race as a penalty.)

 

george

Camera man ended up with a broken collar bone and a couple of ribs. I watched a classic race from a few years back, looked like it was in slow motion because they had to wait for the fuel, well funny. 

Funny to see Hamilton moaning about the tyres he a) tested so knew better than any one else on the field (aside from Nico), and b ) complained last week he wanted to see introduced because of his blowout for safety.

Not entirely accurate there. Pirelli themselves confirmed the compounds tested at the illegal event were actually their prototypes for the season following and that the drivers also had no idea what was being tested from one stint to the next.

Sauber are in trouble. People have been saying for ages they need more sponsorship but it's looking like someone may need to buy the team. They said the weekend that Hulkenburg hadn't been paid last month and today it's been said he's terminated his contract. He will still race for Sauber but if another offer comes along he's gone.

Some russian banker looking at bailing them out

FIA have banned media and non essential personnel from pit lanes:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23249596

 

Knee jerk reaction or a sensible approach?

 

Knee jerk reaction or a sensible approach?

 

Bit of both maybe? I think it's a sensible thing to do at least while they review pit lane safety rules and procedures in a more in depth way.

I don't think we'll lose a lot provided pit lane reporters and cameramen are allowed to move from garage to garage on the paddock side.