F1 might stick with grooved tires

F1 is supposed to switch to slick tires in 2009, but if the reduction in aerodynamic downforce doesn't slow the speeds enough, F1 might stick with their grooved tires.

The theory is: much less downforce and more mechanical grip should improve the racing and overtaking," FIA President Max Mosley told Autosport.

"If it turns out that the promised reduction in downforce hasn't happened and the cornering speeds go up, we'll just put the grooves back in.

"We don't want to do that, but sometimes we've been promised by the aerodynamicists a 50 percent reduction in downforce and it doesn't materialize. Then the speeds rocket up again. We've got the answer if we have to."