Fragile tyres to make usual strategy impossible in Canada

Even if the forecast rain does not materialise, the Canadian grand prix looks set to be an interesting one.

So far in 2010 with the refuelling ban, the tendency has been for teams to adopt simular one-stop strategies for all the cars.

But after a two-year absence from F1, the low-grip and cool Montreal surface on Friday was chewing up the tyres as drivers practiced.

“According to the current data, I think two stops will be the minimum,” Bridgestone’s head of tyre development Hirohide Hamashima admitted.

Some drivers were complaining that the soft tyres were lasting just a few laps on Friday, and even the ‘prime’ is quickly degrading and graining.

When asked if some drivers might buck the apparent necessity for multiple stops on Sunday, Renault’s Robert Kubica told Turun Sanomat: “Actually I think two stops will barely be enough.”

With drivers needing to begin racing on the tyre with which they set their fastest qualifying time, it is conceivable that some will gamble on a quicker lap with the fragile soft tyre.

Envisaging a mixed-up grid, Hamashima said: “Someone will take a risk and it might be a little bit of a different story to past races.”

Lotus’ Heikki Kovalainen smiled: “I think it will be an interesting weekend.”

© RIF|GMM