F1 teams won't be quite as much in the dark about tire performance next year, says Brawn. (LAT)
Formula 1 teams now have enough tire expertise to avoid a repeat of 2012's early "random" results next season, reckons Mercedes boss Ross Brawn.
The first seven grands prix of 2012 featured seven different winners from five different teams, with form fluctuating wildly. Difficulty in getting this year's Pirelli tires into the correct operating window was pinpointed as the reason for the unpredictability.
Pirelli is revamping its compounds again for 2013, but Brawn says top teams have made concerted efforts to avoid getting caught out. Asked if he expected another tire-induced shake-up in the order next year, Brawn replied: "I think the process on the part of the teams will be much stronger.
"We've been through a period where the tires were fairly benign and we didn't need a lot of tire expertise within the team. With the Pirelli tires, there was far more potential to get it right or wrong, and we needed to create or strengthen the expertise.
"I think all the top teams have now got a lot of [tire] expertise within their groups. Therefore when we start on the new tires next year, we'll have a much stronger organization to support it."
Brawn admitted the potential for teams to get wrong-footed by the new Pirellis' behavior had been reduced rather than eliminated.
"That doesn't mean to say we won't get caught out, because of course we do three tests in cold weather in the winter then really start stressing the tires when we get to the first race," he said. "But I think the teams are more competent now in their strengths and ability to understand and use the tires properly."