I always love hearing Martin Brundle say "Let them race already. They're the 20 best drivers in the world. Let them figure it out".

F1 when missiles strike: 😃 F1 when it's raining: 🤬

Yeah we were robbed of unpredictable and exciting races TWICE now this season, because race control decided to wait for an eternity until it is dry enough. It is also extremely unfair towards the smaller teams, because they don't have a chance to benefit from chaotic circumstances.

It was amusing watching the MotoGP races in Thailand the same weekend. There was so much rain (especially during Moto2) that there was effectively a river across the tarmac. Despite running on 2 tires, instead of 4, they still ventured out on their wet tyres. If MotoGP can race in the wet, then F1 should certainly be able to as well.

The fact that F1 use to race in full wets when I was growing up watching it, makes me sad 😫 but yes, there's no point having wet tyres nowadays as if it's "too wet", then there's no race at all and those tyres aren't used... 🙄

I really didn't understand why they delayed Singapore. Still today, I can't find an answer. WET tyres were ideal for such conditions and I think it would've made for crazy pitstop strats for inters and then dry tyres

I remember a time when there were 3 types of wet weather tyres: Intermediates, Full Wets and the Monsoon Tyre (I believe that‘s what it was called). So it is just a form of natural progression that the full wets aren’t used anymore. In 20 years the inter gets the axe.

Spa 2021 was a weird day. There was a dense fog in the air and the mist from cars made visibility very bad. But the Singapore GP this year could have started at the proper time and it would have been fine.

Back in the 1990s I remember a race at Spa where Jordan changed to Goodyear full wets during a pit stop and I remember pit lane reporter for RTE (Irish television) Declan Quigley saying "they've gone onto the full quatro wets, soft option". Now that suggests to me that they not only had full wets but different compound options of full wet tyres!

Remember the Bridgestone inters? They could run at a window that covers the current Pirelli full wets up to a bone dry track and still go strong.

The problem is the FIA. When Masi was with the FIA, he was more daring. He let drivers race in torrential conditions, like the Start of Germany 2019 GP and Q3 in Belgium GP Qualifying. Those were wet weather conditions. I think the current FIA do not like to race in conditions like these because of what happens at Belgium in 2021. They care about safety. The problem is, if we keep waiting for the rain to clear for intermediates, when the weather is perfectly fine for wets, then we never get any race time.

Well this aged perfectly. It was like 2 laps of wet tires 😂

Man, you nailed the timing on this video...

I think an ideal solution would be to develop a truly slick intermediate like Toyota used in their LMP1 program to huge success, or maybe groove then slightly on the shoulders like some inters, (probably unpopular opinion coming up) make the inter a 'wet' tire slightly more optimized for conditions wetter than a drying track, and then redevelop the wet tire to not suck and have it as a monsoon wet. Edit: what I'm really saying is bring back a dang tire war.

Yeah, rain nowadays means boring race and a possibility of no race at all… wet racing used to be fun, now it’s something I dread

In the early days of me watching F1 back in 2005, hearing that rain was expected was exciting! Now, hearing rain is expected is a sign that i can wait half an hour or even an hour to tune in...

Why isn't anyone asking Pirelli why their wet weather tyres are so bad in the wet? Why can't they produce a better wet weather tyre that the drivers and teams will actually use. The comment by Seb only goes to show that neither the teams nor drivers want to use the current wet weather tyres, so make them better.

this video aged well after the japanese GP

If the full wets are too hard to be usable (per Seb’s comment) then Pirelli should soften the compound or otherwise improve them so that they can be used. Or make a tire in between the full wets and inters and ditch the full wets, no one ever uses them anyway

this, like the past five wtf1 videos i’ve watched, does not on any way answer the question posed by the title, nor provide any information or analysis i couldn’t find anywhere (everywhere) else. keep doing what you’re doing lads, what a hustle you’ve got going

You jinxed it mate!😅

There used to be a Super Hard tyre in 2018 and it never got used

Totally agree. If Sainz aquaplaned in Suzuka on the wets like he did on the inters i would not be angry at the pause, like Malaysia 2009

Instead of removing the wets, knowing f1, they will remove one of the dry tyres lol

Who's watching this video now after the tires get used at Japan GP?

This aged well.

I’ve been following F1 for as long as I can remember because my family have been following it since before I was born but I was never really Into It, like I’d watch it with the family if it was on and laugh at one of the driver’s names being shortened to “Ham” (still quite amusing) and that was it. Until, lockdown 2020 when the weekly race weekends were a real comfort and thus began my descent into The Car Fandom. Really got into it this year and pages like your guys’ are really nice and comforting as a new(ish) fan and it’s fun to be able to hear and learn stuff like this and not feel intimidated :-) Even put your podcast on to keep me company during late night exam cramming haha. WTF1 you guys are so cool!

The problem is exactly the innovation introduced this year: Ground effect aero. The kind of puddles and rivers that forms on the track will easily disrupt the work of underbody aero devices, causing unpredictable amount of grips they can generate. I don't think the FIA will allow anymore drenched wet race until they and the teams understand the behaviour of these cars on wet conditions better. Source: trust me bro.

As FIA has great confidance in the Tyre makers.. wet Tyre will never be used

This aged well 😂

Completely agree. What's the point of having a wet weather tire if you're not going to start the race until it's dry?

Great point about the (possible) crossover between wets and intermediates. That is why they should be used!

a artificial wet race could be interesting where the track is kept wet all the way though

Assuming the wet tyre is actually useful, I am okay with delaying a race start with drivers safety in mind. Especially the start can be dangerous under wet conditions. But maybe use them, when rain is getting stronger later in the race?

Hear hear! Great editing too as always.

Love that image of the car aquaplaning! That's a classic!!!

I think it's most likely to do with the combination street circuit + full wets. I can imagine the race would've started on a proper circuit with proper run off area

This did not age well.

you showed a gif of a Mariners game, well timed.

They should make a tire between intermediate and slicks, that way it would force more strategy to happen while also allowing the F1 to keep the focus on delaying starts for safety

The problem is the wider tyres nowadays it gives off too much spray for safety. (I guess...) The 85lt water displacement is just too much for current safety regulations apparently, so make the full wets displace like 55 lt (or make a 3rd compound between inters and full wets) couse the gap from 85lt to 30lt is kinda big.. Ps I call them "Interslicks" 😉

Gets used in Japan Grand Prix 2 days later

I like the term interslicks. As they start in the intermediate then wear to slicks

This week I rewatched 1982 monaco gp, to know there was a car on track half the race without being removed was weird, looking how far it has gone

I remembered watching the race in Sepang back in 2009. It was an insane event. The race had to stop not even halfway due to how heavy the rain went on. Lots of cars aquaplaned and spun out. But that also showed how each team really skimp on making the car perform even when it comes to wet condition. U would expect the most prestigious racing event should have a car that works on most conditions but nah. Vapour trails coming out of the wing, massive water being diverted by the tyres. Shame we never get to see a race like that anymore.

They were literally used today

I think if the full wets are necessary so they don’t delay a session also they should add the slinnermidets as a cyan color and it be a medium but work in the cold this would be helpful for the one dry lane

This was the perfect timing to post this video xD

Seems like the big issue is visibility with the amount of spray produced by the wet weather tires.

As a pre-slicks watcher (modern era) we need to see wet tyres used more, the pace doesn't matter, is the race! I'd bet red bull would win because it would be a strategy race 👌 sorry Charles

I somehow managed to simulate a difference between wet and inters by accident. I was playing F1 22 MyTeam Career mode, when it was heavy rain at Spa. with like 7 laps to go, the rain backed off to inter conditions. I made the call to go in for inters, and the pit stop sent me from 7th to 21st (would have been 22nd but KMAG exploded). Gasly had somehow made a 16 car DRS train without DRS being active, so I managed to get my way all the way up to 4th place in the span of 5 laps, despite my car being 9th in performance

I think if they started earlier it would have been only wets to inter. still would have been a nice change. but I think in the future there will be dry compounds and 1 wet compound (the intermediate we have now).

The most important element of comedy? Timing.

My opinion is that FIA didn't want to start the race as you guys mentioned the New Wets are a horrendous compound and not liked by drivers so they thought Street courses are more dangerous and likelihood of someone crashing in wet is high, so the red flag for the damage repair would cost them roughly the same amount of time as a delayed start would and when you take into account the prediction was for the rain to blow away FIA decided to wait. Both times delays happened at Street circuits. My guess is as Suzuka is a classical track they won't do that again especially after the criticism they've faced by the fans.

Lol love the intro with the wet tyres waiting

Wet tyres at Suzuka: Is this the day? Is this the day? 2022 Japanese GP: Yes, unfortunately...

They need to go back to only having slicks and a 'wet' option that sits halfway between the current intermediate and the wet tyres. I think it was Bridgestone who introduced the inter tyre, outfoxing Goodyear. Just change the options as if the cars are never going to race in full wet conditions then there's no point having the tyres that can do so.

I mean it's simple, the FIA sucks at their job and doesn't understand racing in the rain is possible and cancel or delay the race when it rains. Rain is when true driver skill comes out so only ever using inters means the drivers are never truly tested in the wet. FIA needs to stop being so scared.... of racing.

There's a huge difference between using full wets at real circuits and at a street circuit. The streets have high barriers either side (or buildings), and the water that gets thrown up in the air has nowhere to go but back down on the track. In Japan, Brazil and Silverstone, three often wet races, the full wets can clear the track of standing water in a matter of laps, assuming nothing else is adding water to the puddling. Spa and Monza have trees which can keep the moisture in the air until the cars generate enough particles into the air where they combine with the mist thrown up. That can make it even _worse_ than at the three mentioned above. Actually Melbourne is pretty good at shifting the heavier rain because of its layout. I'll be honest, I don't mind if the race starts behind the safety car. In the wetter conditions, standing starts can be asking for trouble, and I don't know about you, but I have seen far too many crashes in the wet that didn't need to happen if only they'd waited an hour... If it's wet at Suzuka, assuming that it's not as insane as Spa last year, they could well use the full wets.

Spa 2021 was my first F1 race lol

Love the vids mate! As an insider, I can assure you that one of the many reasons wets weren’t use was because of the street circuit and it’s proximity from track to wall. Yes Monaco is also a street circuit and wets were use but only because high profile names were at the event and they were getting extremely disappointed with the outcome of waiting, it was Also lower speeds and shorter track. Can you imagine the disaster it would have been to see a wet race in Singapore, if 1/5 of the cars dnf due to drivers mistakes from track conditions or mechanical failure also cause by track conditions it was a sure guarantee double the cars would have on wets. That means more spending on the teams and more controversy over the budget cap. Ultimately it came down to will cars crash and will they exceed the budget cap.

Important fact that you forgot to mention is the new car design which lifts the air up at the back of the car so overtaking will be easier. However during rainy wheter it causis a fog effect, reducing visibility massively.

at @2:41 IM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!??? 😯THANK YOU!! i really thought i was alone on this xD

just wanna say that thumbnail is absolutely fantastic

This hasn’t aged well…… Suzuka says hold my beer.

Funny how right after this came out, they use wets

A nice soft compound that can hold a little more heat and wear in quite fast would give the tires more of a chance at being chosen over the inters. Meaning they would grip way better than the inters but wouldn't last as long to balance out both types at the end of a long run. You have to give the teams options on both sides so they can work different strategies instead of everyone doing the same thing at the same time. Let a wet specialist slap on a set of wets and go gun-ho for enough laps to get a cushion before hitting the inters with everyone else.

I agree so much with letting races start on wet conditions- it's so damn fun to see teams and drivers nervously scramble and decide whether they should stick to wets or make the gamble and follow the herd to switch to intermediates.

And then suddenly rain tyres did get used, something about Murphy...

So who's here in between the Japanese grand prix? Or rather the lack of one?

I remember growing up seeing rain was so exciting and now it’s like nascar where we just have to wait and instead of an exciting race with the best of the best having to navigate the conditions it’s predictable and sometimes not even a full race…

Love how right after watching this video I turn on for the Japanese GP free practice 2 and they are running full wets

uoooh wet tire 😭😭

The wet tyres are actually very useful in their tears 😭

I would say they should add the wets back just with some small improvements so the drivers even think of using them since it was all awesome and cool all the water flying all over the track with those high speed nasty overtakes that verstappen drift back then was all good until that one downfall of pace hope they can make a comeback in f1

Lots of them were used today at Suzuka :-)

Suzuka *cough.

Even at 2021 Belgium i thought the FIA were too cautious. Look at Canada 2011 and Malaysia 2012. Sectors like lakes.. that's what we want to see

I would imagine they don't like starting with the wet because of Hungary 2021, a handful of cars missed their brakingpoint due to low visibility from the spray of the wet tire, and a lack of grip and there was a huge accident at the 1st corner. and as the wet tires this season aren't great (I don't imagine pirrelli are oblivious to this) they probably want to avoid using them if at all possible.

Impose a mandatory wet tire start. That could show interesting strategies... Like a second lap pit stop. 😅

who’s here after Suzuka

This aged like milk

Literally talked this thing with my sister when we watched Singapore GP. WTF1 you read our minds

0:29 I have some very dark memories about the last time when there was rain at the Japanese GP...

here during 2022 japanese gran prix red flag

Japanese gp take notes

I watched Japan GP from 2007 and they drove with SC for like 15 laps and they countinued normaly so maybe they should do that strategy instead of waiting for track to dry out

The rain tires are a different skill. Which is what we want to see. We want to see any and all conditions. And for me, that sometimes also includes a boring inline racing day, (or part of) and that also requires focus from the drivers, to keep that up, the circuit itself was NOT easy, so that in itself required skill, especially the second half where everyone was getting tired and bored, and zoned out.... bam...mistakes. SO, that sometimes being part of a race, is not just affecting us viewers, but the drivers too. I find that an interesting thing, seeing who can deal with that kind of tiredness, and who flies off the track. But I agree on wanting to see rain tires and the switch to inters. That's what they're for. I don't care if they work or not...if not, they need to drive slower. They used to, when they were out there in monssoon conditions...they drove more carefully, but drive they did! I MISS that. 😭

0:04 List of useless things in this Universe: -WET Tyres That's it.

Who's watching these during the Red flag?

Best question yet!

personally i think they should have different wet tire compounds like they did in the past, if the tires are too hard in the current state it makes sense why no drive actively want to use them, it also makes sense why the intermediate tires are used so much because they are softer and can almost perform like a slick tire in the right conditions.

I think one of the reasons why we no longer have wet races is that cars are too heavy. Once you lose control, it’s over.

Thanks now I now it actually exists 😅

Slinters is best for the hybrid between inters and slicks :D

here's an idea, make inters a little close to slick and make wet tyres as good as inters

This video didn't age well.

Well, this aged poorly

0:04 lol so true

i dont remember, but what happened in canada this year? intemidiates or full wets?