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Formula One drivers threaten to withdraw from German GP if there are more tire blowouts

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Pirelli tyres are prepared at the Nuerburgring racetrack, in Nuerburg, Germany, Wednesday, July 4, 2013. The Formula one race will be held on Sunday. The Formula One championship goes to this weekend\'s German Grand Prix on a bankrupt circuit amid concern over tire safety and with three-time champion Sebastian Vettel seeking his first win on home soil. The race at the Nuerburgring comes a week after a chaotic British Grand Prix in which five cars suffered tire blowouts, including that of leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Pirelli moved quickly to address the problem, and a different type of tires will be used for Sunday\'s race, hoping to address the problems and ameliorate angry teams. The Formula one race will be held on Sunday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

NUERBURGRING, Germany – Formula One drivers will withdraw from the German Grand Prix if there are more tire blowouts during Sunday’s race.

Last weekend, a number of blowouts overshadowed the British GP, causing tire supplier Pirelli to introduce a new plan to stop the same thing from happening again.

But the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association said Thursday in a statement that the drivers would pull out if the problem persists.

“We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as it is expected by our teams, sponsors and fans,” the GPDA said. “However, the drivers have decided if similar problems should manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the tires endangers again the lives of drivers, marshals and fans.”

This weekend, the belt on the rear tires will be made of Kevlar instead of steel in an effort to reduce the chance of punctures.

From the Hungarian Grand Prix, the tires will change again, using the 2012 construction with 2013 compounds.

In the paddock at the Nuerburgring, some drivers praised Pirelli for acting quickly to rectify the problem. But the GPDA, chaired by Pedro de la Rosa and with Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button as directors, met later and decided to take their own action in order to avoid a repeat of the scenes from Silverstone.

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