Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are among the drivers who have voiced their concerns about the plan to ban the use of tyre blankets in Formula 1.
The process of phasing them out of the sport has already begun. Last season front tyres could be heated up to 100 degrees before being fitted to cars and back tyres to 80 degrees, but this season that has dropped to 70 for both.
And next year it will be reduced further to 50 degrees, before the tyre warmers are scrapped altogether from 2024. The planned reduction for next season was tested during practice ahead of the United States Grand Prix last weekend, in a session which saw drivers struggle to control the rear ends of their cars on colder rubber.
Speaking about that Pirelli tyre test, Verstappen said: "It was not enjoyable. I drove on 50 degrees and I almost spun in the pit lane. I also had the hardest compound but I think there is a lot more to it.
"If we have the tyre blankets anyway, why don't we use them to the fullest because they are there. I would go full blankets or zero because we have them already, we don't need to get new ones."
Looking ahead to 2024, when the blankets will be banned altogether, the Dutchman added: "I think we will have a lot of crashes, that I know already. Also, the tyre degradation is going to be completely different because your tyres are very cold, you will be sliding around for the first few laps, your tyre pressures will go through the roof so your tyres will deg a lot more... we need to find a solution to that."
Meanwhile, McLaren racer Norris almost learned about the risks the hard way during that session in Austin. After briefly losing control of his car, he came within just a few inches of crashing when entering the pit lane.
He shares Verstappen's opinion, and gave a clear warning to the FIA that there will be more crashes if they press ahead with their plans to ditch the blankets. "That's the issue with it, it's an unsafe thing rather than it just doesn't feel as nice to drive," said the Brit.
"A current era Formula 1 car, which is designed so specifically with all the aero and stuff, it’s not made to go out on cold tyres. Once you go to a much colder race track, or if it is a little bit damp or something, everyone is going to shunt the car at some point. No driver wants it, basically."
