Apr.25 (GMM) Toyota racer Timo Glock at Barcelona declined to join the growing chorus of formula one drivers who are pushing for a rethink on the ban next year on tyre warmers.
Many active drivers are concerned that the ban, slated to coincide with the return of slick tyres, leaves them with dangerously low grip for the initial laps of action.
And even though Bridgestone's latest slick tyres at the recent Barcelona test had improved the situation, Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) chairman Pedro de la Rosa on Thursday confirmed that the issue is still a concern to the body.
Rubens Barrichello and Fernando Alonso echoed de la Rosa's words in the FIA press conference at the Circuit de Catalunya.
"I do not share the concerns of some of the others," Glock, the 26-year-old and reigning champion of GP2, is quoted as saying by Motorsport Aktuell.
"I did a 1:21.8 on my first lap (in recent testing here). I had no problems getting temperature into the tyres," he explained.
Glock dismissed the argument on the basis of safety."Motor sport is simply dangerous, always," the German said. "Of course, tyres that are not preheated have less grip.
"But, firstly, it is just a matter of getting used to it, and secondly it is the same situation for everyone," he added.
World champion Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, did not join the argument about safety, but does not believe the tyre blanket ban will save teams money.
"It's the wrong place to save money," the Finn said. "It's not (going to save) much and we are going to spend the same money somewhere else anyway."
