F1 team bosses doubtful rookie driver tyre proposals would hit the mark

Leading F1 Team Principals have expressed doubt over the likely success of proposals to make available an extra set of tyres in Practice One sessions if the rule is confined to teams running rookie drivers.

Indeed, Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali, while agreeing with the need for an additional set of tyres, insisted they should be made available to the exisiting 22-man grid. Asked about the proposal, the Italian replied: "Yes [I'd like to see], an extra set to be used on Friday in the morning, not only for rookies but for everyone. "It would be difficult to explain to the people that are in the grandstands that Mr X has an extra set of tyres to run and Alonso, Hamilton or whoever it is, is not running because that extra set of tyres is just for the rookies. "So if we have to do something I believe this is a good idea to be honest, we should so it for everyone in order to increase the number running on Friday morning." His McLaren counterpart McLaren Whitmarsh concurred, suggesting a rookie-only rule could actually prove counterproductive. "It was originally discussed that there should be an extra set of tyres for the rookie drivers, but I think that's quite difficult," he declared. "And at the end of the day if it's the people we're thinking about in the grandstands, they come to see Alonso, Hamiton, Raikkonen, Button. "That's who they want to see, so I think if we all put out rookie drivers they've not heard of I think they feel cheated in some way." Lotus Team Principal Eric Boullier added: "An extra set of tyres, yes, we just need to make sure we could maybe run it for everybody and not only for rookie drivers."