OK Number 50 - Talking Union Blues

Before the circus could move back to Silverstone, where the whole misadventure had kicked off back in 1950, it had to take a brief diversion back to Monte Carlo. As well as hosting one of the most iconic and enuring Grands Prix on the calender, not to mention a very substantial percentage of the worlds billionaire population, it was the headquarters of the Grand Prix Drivers Association. Founded in 1951, disbanded in 1982, and reformed in 1994 to represent driver's voices in regards to commercial agreements and safety.

Tyres exploding without prior warning or wear at speed? That was a safety issue if there ever was one, as Kallen and Tohdoh had experienced first hand, charging headlong into the barriers at full speed. Given the loss and control and the possibility of cars ploughing into the back of other cars, it was very possible for a driver to be seriously inured by having their exposed head run into a stricken car or a recovery tractor.

The new tyres were unquestionably to blame, it was simply unknown as to what the nature of the problem was, and what the possibility of switching back was. A two thirds majority of drivers could vote to overrule both the FIA rules committee and the unanimous agreement of the constructors, as was enumerated in the most recent Concorde agreement, in affairs ruled to be related to safety.

Leading what was functionally a trade union was the ever affable Gino Weinberg, as he chaired the meeting, with Rivalz keeping minutes as the secretary. The other sixteen drivers were assembled in concerned formation, alongside the last of the garagista's, the last relic of the eighties who was not quite finished with the cocaine just yet, Reuben Ashford, to provide a technical perspective. Given that his team was in the unique perspective of having nothing to gain, as opposed to the Geely and Rebellion technical directors who could greatly lose or greatly benefit respectively if the tyres were changed, he was the best they could get on the short notice they had. Gino cleared his throat, and the most recent race winner began to speak.

"The time now is seven minutes to two o'clock in the afternoon, on the twenty first of July 2019. Conducting the meeting will be myself, Gino Weinberg and keeping minutes will be secretary Rivalz Cardemonde. Present in abstract are all current drivers within Formula One who are members of this Association, with Ashford-RT team owner and chief engineer Reuben Ashford also present at our invitation. I will read out a list of drivers, when your name is called raise your hand and shout 'Here' so that we may have a quorum."

Gino then read a list of drivers in reverse championship order, with all twenty present except for Bradley, who had gotten into a heated argument and verbally harassed two members before deciding he was too good for 'these eejits' and burning his membership card, and Tohdoh, who simply wanted no part in any union. However, their lack of a presence would not detract from the enforceable unanimity of those that were present, and so, with eighteen members plus one guest, the meeting was gavelled in.

"On the agenda today is the discussion on the concerns regarding the tyres introduced for this competition year with a view to proposing a regulatory amendment under Article seventeen of the Concorde Agreement of 2013. Before we begin, it is necessary under the provisions of Article seventeen paragraph nine to dictate, for the purposes of facilitating such an amendment that this be ruled a safety concern. A unanimous vote is required. First, the yea's."

The entire room now rose their hands, murmouring noises of support. Gino scribbled into his notepad before saying "Now, the nay's."

Not a single hand, and the loudest noise in the room was probably the fan.

Gino smirked, before writing "Carried unanimously. Alright, I would like to provide five minutes of speaking time to Reuben Ashford to respond to questions you may have before the discussion and vote."

"I have a question." shot out a voice immediately, which it transpired was Kallen. "When my tyre deformed it was incredibly sudden in the change from intact to not, but as well they were reasonably fresh tyres. There had not been very significant wear on them that would lead to a loss in performance and the risk of a puncture. It wasn't overheating, it had no forewarning, it just gave out without indication of any weakness in the canvas that was not there the previous times I'd tried to take that corner at speed."

Gino nodded, seeing the question as fair, before presenting his palm towards Reuben, to give him full license to answer. Reuben pushed his glasses up his nose, before clearing his throat and beginning.

"So, the trouble here is construction. Since… maybe 2011 or 2012, definitely since refuelling has been banned, it was realised that pit stops are necessary to spice up races, make them interesting and strategic. Since the fuel element had been removed in the interests of safety, the mandate reached the tyre manufacturer, since by then there was only one tyre manufacturer providing a spec tyre for all cars, unlike how it used to be, and the FIA could order a tyre to its own liking, helping competition and so on, and in this instance it pushed for it to be high degradation, requiring multiple pit stops over the course of a race."

Gino nodded again. It was perhaps only himself, Tohdoh, though Tohdoh was not here, and Zhou that had been around before 2010, when refuelling was allowed, and this made perfect sense. Since the cars only carried enough fuel to go for perhaps twenty laps at best, there were few concerns about using tyre degradation as a means to incentivise pit stops, as cars did not contain enough fuel to go all the way through the race, and the strategy was in balancing the distance between stops for fuel and the average wet weight of the car through the race.

"There are two ways to have a tyre degrade, or to engineer degradation in performance into a tyres life cycle. There is heat based degradation and tread based degradation. Since this high degradation concept has been introduced, the tyre manufacturer has been directed to go for an approach of heat based degradation. As tyres repeatedly go through heat cycles, the rubber almost begins to effectively melt, and becomes incredibly slippery and the driver loses time. These tyres have a very narrow window of temperature in which they can give grip, and the older they are the more susceptible they are to going above this window, however the big advantage is that conservative driving can keep the tyre cool, and allow for fewer stops, leading to the strategic variance that the FIA wanted to maintain."

The entire room was silent now, as Reuben fell into his most natural mode; that of an absent-minded university lecturer.

"But this model had a major flaw. Heat can be conducted into a tyre by placing it under lateral and longitudinal stresses, of course, but it can also get hot by other means. Over the last two to three years in particular, the complex aerodynamic instruments on the front wing, barge board and diffuser conduct a lot of high energy air, which fuses with the heat coming out of the exhaust. This means that if a car is following closely behind another car, their tyres will be degrading at a rate disproportionate to the energy the tyre is conducting with the tarmac. They will be boiled in their casings with the hot wake of the car ahead, which disincentivised cars getting close to other cars and engaging in prolonged close battles. This was their fatal flaw; the fastest way to drive was as far away from other cars as you could get."

Reuben paused again, as Gino mulled over this. This year's tyres, no matter what else was said about them, definitely made following far more intuitive, however Ruben continued in his slow, meandering fashion.

"All of this resulted in the new tyre model for this year, that of mechanical wear, where elements of the tread would not get hot, but be literally ripped away from the tyre when under load. This would happen over a number of laps, until the tread was gone and the car rapidly lost pace. This required teams to rework their endplates for this year, as the priority was no longer to prevent the tyre from undergoing significant spikes in temperature, but to minimise the mechanical forces being put through them."

"So what is the problem?" a new voice, revealed to be Tamaki, interjected, before continuing "Cars can follow closer, that's all noble, but why are they blowing up now?"

"The turns at which the tyres have been exploding have universally been ones of high lateral grip loading. It appears that the tyre manufacturer took these loads into account when designing the tyres, so that undergoing this load once would not ruin them, however over several laps it would have degraded enough to have blunted performance. However, there was once again, a fatal flaw."

Reuben took his glasses off his face, and wiped at his eyes to clear them before he took a breath and dropped the key missing piece.

"The test cars for the tyre loading examinations were last years cars. Since there were no major rule changes, cars have universally received updates and improved specs since then, enabling them to take corners at higher speeds. There is a development war, after all. However, the tyres were not designed to go above the loads that they observed in regular running from 2018. These 2019 cars are too fast for the information they had and designed their tyres around."

At this point, Reuben seemed to be picking up pace as he approached his thesis, however he had to pause again, this time as he began coughing into his cloth. However, he recovered quickly, taking a short breath, waving off an offer of a second cloth before regathering momentum.

"This came to a head in Austria. Here, there was a second factor that tipped the balance. Since we were last here in 2018, the track had been resurfaced. It had undergone diamond grinding, with grooves perpendicular to the racing line. This was unknown to the tyre manufacturers, and enabled drivers to go far far faster than they had the previous year, beyond even what the upgrades in the intervening twelve months would have induced. The speed, and more importantly the energy the tyres conducted during changes in momentum vectors, that the cars would be carrying through corners was too high, and the tyres were liable to completely split apart down their central axis at any given moment following a grip limited corner, even if the tyre had not undergone prior wear."

Reuben finally finished, leaving a silence in the room, as everyone absorbed the information. Seeing no one else get the ball rolling, Gino cleared the throat and began.

"Speaking as a driver, if that's the case, the tyres aren't up to spec with regards to durability. We should go back to last years rubber, it might be bad for racing, but it doesn't snap if you put more load into it than they factored for, it just wears much faster."

"We can't go back to last years rubber." spoke Xingke, with uncharacteristic urgency. "These tyres are completely different to last years. This years cars have been designed to account for these tyres, and heat sensitive tyres will be baked before they have even done a lap in these cars. The front wings don't diffuse hot air nearly as well as they did last year."

"Easy for you to say."

The line came from Naoto, who Gino had observed as being recently emboldened both on and off track, and it was followed by his countryman, Suzaku Kururugi, who interrupted Xingke before he had a chance to reply, clearly agitated.

"Yeah, you're just trying to keep us all on the tyres that are giving you the advantage!"

"Suzaku, please." Gino tried to reason, as he tried to regain control the room. "Let him speak, let him speak."

Xingke now fully turned his chair around to face the reigning champion, staring him down fiercely before asking "Suzaku, what team do you drive for?"

"Schwarzenritter-Lamperouge, why?"

Xingke did not blink or break eye contact while he followed up with "Why is it not Rosenberg Suzaku? What happened?"

Suzaku frowned confusedly, before answering "ASEEC cited overwhelming costs to keep the cars current and the almost yearly shifts in spec parts and regulations, and pulled the plug. Rolo's older brother had to save the project, otherwise it would have gone under."

"Exactly. And what you're proposing, Suzaku Kururugi, and now correct me if I am wrong, is to revamp the rules for the second time this season at immense cost to already strapped teams, incurring a cost they had not budgeted for and had no way to expect?"

Suzaku's face dropped like a stone, and out of some sympathy, Gino tried to bail him out by asking "How long do you think the changes would take, Reuben?"

Reuben paused to consider the question, before musing "Well, we could just strap on last years front wings, which will generally do the job of shifting hot air out of the path of the tyre, however the body of this years car has been shaped to pick up the airflow off of the front wing as it exists right now. Having the front end of a 2018 car and the body shape of a 2019 car will result in significant imbalance, and going full 2019 will result in extreme tyre wear. The only feasible option is to tough it out through the high tyre wear in the 2019 chassis until an upgrade arrives, which will make for a faster car, but need more pit stops, or just go back fully to the 2018 spec, which isn't as advanced as this years. As to how long you'd need to wait… I'd guess until maybe Japan or Korea, in five or six races time."

The room was silent once again, as the room thought through the implications. Xingke was always going to vote no, and probably with pressure from the team so would Zhou, but they only needed twelve drivers to cement the motion. However, would some people want to chance their arm at tyres they knew? Gino didn't know.

"Last question." Naoto said, speaking up. "In your professional opinion, are these tyres safe to drive?"

"Hell no." Reuben responded, instantly. "If these tyres are still the mandatory spec for the next race in Britain, there will be no Ashford-RT cars or drivers on the grid. I won't risk having whatever may come from that on my conscience."

This seemed to be the first time Rivalz had been told this, which made for an absolutely hilarious facial expression, however many of the undecided faces were not undecided anymore.

"I think we are ready to vote."

Xingke looked glum, however Gino continued, noting "All those in favour of keeping the specification of tyres currently in place under the current FIA regulations?"

Xingke and Zhou dutifully raised their arms.

After a moment, Suzaku sighed and joined them, likely not prepared to lead to another Schneizel situation. However, his voice would likely be drowned out.

Gino took the names, before continuing "All in favour of reintroducing the specification of last season?"

The hands flew up, and Gino had quite the job of keeping track of the exact number as he totted them up. At the end of the head count, he reached sixteen, noting both Ashfords, both B.A.R's, both Vanwalls, both Densō's, Kallen, Rolo, Naoto and Nu, with Gino was counting his own vote separately.

"Carried, fifteen to three, no absentions. The provision regarding the competencies of the GPDA within the 2013 Concorde agreement stated that a decision on safety may be implemented if it received a majority of two thirds of committed voting members. Let it be recorded in the minutes that a resolution to the effect described will be presented and implemented in accordance with the pursuant regulations. If no one has other matters to address, this meeting will be adjourned."

So now, the decision of the teams was as follows; did they accept running a slower car from the previous year, as it had been designed around these tyres and would respond well to them, or to stick with the 2019 cars, which would on paper be faster, however if they did not mesh with the 2018 tyres, it would be the equivalent of an Olympic runner trying to win a race in uggs.

The only team which was not left with a choice was Schwarzenritter, as the deal which saved their assets, which became effective on the 2nd of January had only given Lelouch rights over the employees and long term assets, not the cars and research already produced, which would be sold to satisfy the outstanding debt. While at the time, the primary concern had been that the 2019 car's concepts would be lost and they would have to start from scratch, there was now a second issue; they didn't have their 2018 car available to them, and so had no choice but to keep to the car they had been using.

However, the choice remained open for every other team. Rebellion and, as an extension of the nature of the insolvency proceedings, Schwarzenritter, were keeping to their 2019 cars, while B.A.R, Ashford, Lancer, Densō, Vanwall, Geely, and SoftRola GP were reverting back to the 2018 spec.

Camelot was the last team left undecided, which was the subject of the meeting in Northamptonshire, the Monday before the British Grand Prix. It was only lucky that the first race after the Monaco meeting was in Britain, the home base of almost every team, making the transport much easier given the short notice. Cars were generally transported over a week in advance, and the six days would not have normally been enough to organise the new cars and ship them across to the track in time for Thursday scrutineering if it weren't a short drive down the road for every team, excepting Rebellion, Geely and Densō.

However, while the teams would be able to make the date without issue, deciding on which car to choose was still an issue for Camelot, as Kallen sat opposite the engineering heads, shaking her head out of frustration as the two parties seemed to be speaking different languages.

"I would like to stay with the 2019 chassis."

"Gino has agreed with the strategy team and we are going back to the 2018 spec. He is the senior driver, he has been here for several years, and is ahead of you in this championship with one hundred and seventeen to seventy. He gets to make this call."

Kallen sighed, placing her palm against her face. They had been at this for an hour, and there was not an ounce of progress apparent. Growing increasingly irritable, she shook her head and tried again.

"Sure, he can make that shout for his car, but the rules don't state that the two cars have to be of a similar spec, only a similar livery. Give one of the 2018 cars a lick of paint and hand it off to Gino, and I'll keep mine. It's not an issue."

However, the suits did not budge, replying drily, almost on autopilot, that "The strategy team has crunched the numbers, and your race time will be fourteen seconds faster if you join Gino on the 2018 car, because you'll be making so many pit stops. It's the faster strategy."

Kallen was not amused in the slightest. Yes, it might finish the race faster, but it might also make Kallen eighty six percent more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel for being so dull, or pull the car over and find some better way to spend her time. This was the fastest series in the world, the top formula, and these jokers were talking about how important going slowly was? Up to the last thread of patience, she rolled her eyes, and replied, her tongue laced with sarcasm.

"Ah yes, the immortal science where going slower is secretly the way you go fast. Why not go fast to go fast? We're racers, for heaven's sake. If I wanted to work with numbers I'd have become an accountant. If you take away the joy of driving it, the joy of pushing the limits on track and feeling the rubber on that boundary between having grip and not, then what on Earth's the point?"

However, the machine did not speak the language of frustrated passion, as they robotically shook their heads, replying "No, we can't do that, the car was not designed to do this. We are not inclined in that direction at all. Kallen, you would have to either stop an inordinate amount of times or drive quite slowly, and we know how you feel about the latter. The strategy team is against this."

Kallen clenched her fists and could have sworn she felt her internal temperature rise. She could tell them what she wanted until she was blue in the face, and they would just continue to stare at her confusedly and repeat functionally the same talking point until she waved the white flag.

Just about holding back from biting their heads off, she sighed again and asked "Which is faster, 2018 or 2019? Which will post a better lap time on maximum attack?"

"This years car, we expect, but you'll have to be doing twice the amount of pit stops, which will drop you right through the pack. You'll have to be going around at safety car speeds to keep the tyres from melting in their casings, either that or stopping a lot and making dozens of overtakes, and we're not inclined in the latter direction."

Kallen, now out of patience, snapped back "Well then get inclined, because that's the one I'm going with."

With the engineering heads seeming to grow agitated in tandem with Kallen, they wiped at their foreheads before pointing their hands at her and trying "Kallen, can you please just-"

"Look, if Gino wants to be tootling about in his 2018 car he's welcome to." Kallen replied sharply, growing furious, moving from a sat position to a standing stature.

Taking a breath, she grew and roared "But I'm just sick and tired of hearing all this crap about tyres, everyone complaining about how they're going to have to be so gentle on the tyres to get them to the end, and I'm sorry, I'm sick to death of it all. Just stick up the finger to the lot of them and strap on as many tyres as I need. Everyone's complaining they'll barely be able to keep it at a two stopper if they just about stretch, crawl about the track on the hardest compounds, moving at six miles an hour. Sod it! Go with a three stop, a four stop even! Let's be fast, tell me to go fast and I'll do it, but don't dare tell me to settle for a slower car, or trundle about on a slower strategy! For gods sake, I don't know what you're all here to do, but I'm here to go quickly!"

She ran out of breath and stopped, and only then took account of the room. She was now towering over the engineering heads, leaning forward and almost shouting at this point. She took a look around, and saw all the people in the room staring at her, having left their own tasks alone to watch her yell at these engineers.

And the back of her hand was wound up, outstretched in front of her torso.

She backed off immediately, looked at the engineers, at her hand, then back at the engineer. She swore, before cringing aside.

"Back to square one."

Unfortunately so. Therapy and recovery is not a straightline progression upwards. People relapse, they fall back, their mental health regresses, and the notion of a line up and out, straight as an arrow aimed to the sky, is unrealistic and unfortunate. The journey is never straightforward.

Last chapter reviews wondered if there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the tyres, so I hope I addressed this here. Don't assign to malice what can be explained with incompetence, as they say.

Again, thank you so much, and if you could spare the time to review, that would absolutely make my day.

~G1ll3s