Diffusers defused,now for the 8216;tyre8217; row

Formula One8217;s diffuser row may have been resolved but the new regulations for this season are still causing controversy with twice former world champion Fernando Alonso blasting new tyre rules. A raft of radical rule changes were brought in to reduce costs and make the sport less predictable this year 8212; improving 8216;the show8217; in the parlance of the paddock 8212; and the result has been a topsy-turvy start to the 2009 season. McLaren8217;s world champion Lewis Hamilton restored a semblance of normality with the quickest time in opening practice on Friday but Brawn GP,the winners of the first two races,had Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello second and third fastest. The new team,which emerged from the ashes of Honda after the Japanese manufacturer pulled out of the sport,has been the main beneficiaries of the controversial rear diffuser,which was declared legal on Wednesday. Under the new tyre rules,manufacturer Bridgestone selects two types of tyres for each race with varying grip which all teams have to use. The system had a controversial debut in Australia when the 8216;super soft8217; tyre deteriorated too quickly and their second selection for this weekend8217;s Chinese Grand Prix has not pleased Alonso. 8220;The tyres are a big mistake,8221; the Spaniard told reporters in Shanghai. 8220;We have to change this,we cannot bring the super soft tyre here in China,this is ridiculous. This makes the sport look ridiculous,we will have a disaster again,people running for only six or seven laps with the tyres. We cannot put this show in front of the people. 8220;The Renault driver said if organisers really wanted a lottery of a race,they should put the drivers out in tyres designed for rain. 8220;The people are watching at home,they get up early in the morning and these people make these decisions. We must stop this,8221; he added. 8220;If they want to make us do these ridiculous laps,they can put us on wet tyres8230; it would be funnier on wet tyres.8221;

Bridgestone are confident the 8216;super soft8217; tyres will wear better on Shanghai8217;s purpose-built circuit than they did on the streets of Southern Australia and not all drivers share Alonso8217;s view. 8220;I8217;m not that worried,8221; said Brawn GP8217;s Jenson Button,who won in Australia and again in the second race in Malaysia. 8220;In every race,it8217;s about tyre control and building a good car around the tyre that you8217;ve got to use. Making sure you8217;re not using it too aggressively. 8220;Another major innovation for the season was that teams would be allowed to use the KERS energy recovery system,which stores normally wasted energy to provide a power boost at the push of a button. It has received mixed reviews so far with Williams driver Nico Rosberg saying it had not proved as much of an advantage as he had hoped. Struggling Ferrari have dumped it for China after a problem developed on Kimi Raikkonen8217;s car in Malaysia. BMW-Sauber have,however,have decided to try it out on Robert Kubica8217;s car this week after previously limiting its use to his team mate Nick Heidfeld 8212; the only driver with KERS to have got on the podium so far.