"Running without tyre warmers, tyre blankets, obviously makes the speed difference between the car that comes out of the pit-lane and the car that is on a flying lap much greater, so the possibility of an accident is higher," he pointed out, "We have seen the bigger accidents over the past few years happen when one car is slower than another, not necessarily [when] a car is stopped on the track.
"The speed difference is a safety issue for me, that's my point of view. I've raced all my career without tyre warmers, but it's quite different in
Formula One, mainly because the compounds or the compound-operating window is very narrow. Until they are at a very high temperature, they do not work at all. In other categories, you have a much more progressive build-up of temperature and grip, so it's easier. I find it more difficult here."
Countryman
Fernando Alonso shared de la Rosa's view, but also pointed to strategy implications should the technology be banned.
"I think it's dangerous," the double world champion confirmed, "The races will become boring because you need to stay on the track. When you pit, over the next two laps, you will be eight seconds slower, so you cannot be creative with the strategy or anything like that, and it will become more boring.
"I know that, in some other categories, they don't have tyre blankets - like IndyCars - but they don't have any corners either, they go around and around. I think Formula One is different, the compounds are different and we should look for the maximum performance in the car. We are in Formula One, so it needs to be the peak of motorsports. [The notion of] saving costs is a little bit ridiculous."
Veteran
Rubens Barrichello also voiced concerns about lessening the spectacle, but admitted that he could see two sides to the argument.
