Hill suggests F1 rule change for added excitement

Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill believes teams being mandated to use all three tyre compounds during races would be "a good thing" to promote excitement.

Pirelli provides three tyre compounds every race weekend with the allocation selected from a set of five compounds - characteristics of each track determining which three sets are selected from the range.

A driver is currently mandated to use at least two sets of the three compounds during a race, ensuring at least one pit stop is made regardless of tyre degradation.

But there have been calls across recent years to oblige teams to use the third compound in a race to overcome one-stop races, which are perceived to lack in excitement with less strategic intrigue.

"I think there is definitely an argument to say that if you are going to look for excitement and a little bit more of a challenge, then why not?" 1996 champion Hill told the F1 Nation Podcast.

"I think it is a good idea.

"I have heard it put forward before, it would increase the number of pit stops so you get less of the one-stop factor.

"It's quite interesting that we have got to the stage where Max has built a gap in the last race we had in Belgium and Lewis built a gap enough to be able to come in for a new set of tyres and get the fastest lap and get a point - that's a bit of drama that at first was thought to be a gimmick but now teams are deciding it is important to have that.

"They want to have that scalp and so they come in and do the one-lap stop and that is a bit of drama at the end of the race.

"Having to use all three compounds would throw another challenge in there, so it is possibly a good thing."

Hill urges caution

"Nobody likes to look foolish but the rain-affected races, the ones where you can't really predict what's going to happen, those are the ones that throw up the most drama," added Hill.

"People come away not knowing themselves - that is entertaining.

"You have to be careful, you are throwing yourself open to the accusation of making unnecessary drama - just gimmicks - but I just think why not?

"They have got the tyres there anyway, so having to use all three tyres, that would mean if they were to go with a very Soft tyre, that would be almost impossible to use in the race for more than a couple of laps."