Rosberg slams 'ridiculous' tyre warmer ban

More and more drivers are expressing their unhappiness with the ban on tyre warmers, which is due to come into force next season.


Williams' Nico Rosberg and Honda's Rubens Barrichello are the latest to criticise the move.


Drivers found things very tricky when they first tested under the new regulation in Jerez last year, but things improved slightly during the first day of testing in Barcelona this week.


However, the reintroduction of slicks in 2009 is likely make things a lot more difficult for drivers. Many reckon the different pace between cars already up to race speed and those with cold rubbers are too big a concern.


Rosberg described the new rule as "ridiculous".


"First of all it's still not good. It's still not right," Rosberg told Autosport.


"You can't run tyres like this next year. That's my opinion, definitely not. It's ridiculous. Running out of the pits it's ridiculous.


"It's not racing, it's survival. It's just survival out there, and that's ridiculous, it's not racing.


"They have to do something on the tyres to improve that. It's not the way it should be. You can have cold tyres, but not like that."


Barrichello echoed Rosberg's concerns.


The Brazilian told Autosport: "Without the blankets racing might be a bit boring, because then people will want to go as long as possible, as you are going to lose three seconds out of the pits.


"We may have crashes on the out lap because people may be trying things and I just don't think that's nice."