Drivers threaten to boycott race if tire problems continue

Formula One drivers announced on Thursday they will withdraw from this weekend's German Grand Prix if the tire blowouts which marred Sunday's British race occur again.

During media conferences, drivers sounded confident that tire provider Pirelli had sorted out the problem by introducing new rubbers for the Nuerburgring race. However, following a meeting of the drivers' union, the tone hardened.

"The drivers of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association wish to express their deepest concerns about the events that took place at Silverstone," a statement said.

"We trust that the changes made to the tires will have the desired results and that similar problems will not occur during the German GP weekend.

"We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as it is expected by our teams, sponsors and fans.

"However, the drivers have decided that, if similar problems should manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the tires endangers again the lives of drivers, marshals and fans."

Five drivers suffered blowouts at Silverstone on Sunday and a piece of tire narrowly missed the head of Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Felipe Massa was badly hurt after being struck on the helmet by a loose spring during a race in 2009.

Massa talked of a possible boycott immediately after Sunday's race, won by Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.

A boycott would not be a first for the sport, which has experienced several walkouts by teams and drivers in its often turbulent history.

In 2005, seven teams pulled out of the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis because of tire safety fears.

In 1985, the French Ligier and Renault teams shunned the South African Grand Prix - the penultimate race of the season - amid mounting international pressure against the apartheid system of racial segregation.

In 1982, only 14 cars started the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola after a boycott by teams - led by current commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone - fighting the governing body in a political battle dubbed the 'FISA-FOCA war' within the sport.

That same year the drivers organized a strike before the South African race at Kyalami over restricting clauses in their superlicence agreements. The race went ahead after a compromise was reached.

(China Daily 07/06/2013 page15)