urbanmoose3 said:I honestly think Michael Schumacher's fans will vote for Bridgestone tires, while everyone else goes for Michelin, so you won't get any objective results in the end..
Every brand has its own pros and cons.
The Bridgestone rubber really likes the cooler weather. They're durable and perform consistently.
On the other hand, Michelin tires tend to shine on warmer asphalt—they usually have an edge over Bridgestone at the start and near the end of a stint, though they struggle a bit in the middle. Word is Bridgestone has the advantage in the rain, so it's all pretty balanced...
Personally, I think a car like the Ferrari definitely benefits from that Bridgestone consistency (especially since they were basically designed with them in mind). It would be fascinating if teams like Williams, McLaren, and Renault were running different tire compounds.
Imagine if, say, Driver B was ahead of Driver M. Since Driver M has that specific tire advantage, he could overtake Driver B. But then, after a few laps, Driver B's tires might hold up better, allowing him to fight back and pass Driver M again. You'd see that battle play out after every single pit stop.
Of course, that wouldn't work right now because Ferrari is just too dominant. But if McLaren manages to find more speed and sorts out those reliability issues, things could get interesting...
Still, I can't get behind having a single manufacturer for everyone. If there's only one supplier, they just make whatever suits them best—cheaper, harder, whatever. They aren't going to manufacture specialized tires designed specifically to facilitate overtaking. We saw this before; when there was a monopoly, things were one way, but as soon as competition arrived, speeds shot up drastically. The characteristics change entirely.
Besides, Formula 1 isn't just a contest of the best drivers. It’s not even just about the best chassis manufacturers...
It's a race for the best "package." To win, everything has to align perfectly. You need a great driver, great tires, a great car, and top-tier suppliers for every component—the oils, the fuel, all of it. That's the essence of the formula. One weak link can ruin it. Plus, tracks vary so much; what works for one setup just doesn't work for another.
Let's say we standardized everything and—without wanting to offend anyone by picking a hypothetical name—let's say there's a driver who is a pure genius. He's 20 years old and plans to drive until he's 35. In that scenario, we'd be watching the same thing for the next 15 years with zero chance of change (unless someone takes him out).
There are just so many moving parts that influence dominance and victory, which gives everyone else a fighting chance. The truth about this season is that Ferrari and Michael Schumacher are an unbeatable combination. You could honestly call it a miracle. But even that era is slowly winding down, and who knows? Maybe next season it'll be McLaren or Renault. Though, personally, I'd prefer seeing them all neck-and-neck.