Hamilton urges Pirelli to stop "ridiculous" one-stop races

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has urged Pirelli to produce some softer tyres for next season, to try and ecourage drivers to pit more in races.

Hamilton, who is dominating this season's F1 world championship, says that the tyres need to be substantially softer than this season's tyres.

The Mercedes driver also urged the tyre manufacturer to use the thinner gauge rubber, which we saw used in the Spanish, French and British Grand Prix this season, to reduce blistering on the tyres.

"I've really got to keep pushing Pirelli because the tyres feel great here but this whole one-stop business is just ridiculous," Hamilton ranted to RaceFans. "Next year, I reckon they've got to go three steps softer. Swing them all lower so we have to do at least two stops per race."

There's been 16 races so far this season and 13 of those 16 have been won by drivers who have only pitted once.

"It's going to make it a little bit more challenging, and more grip, naturally as you go to softer compounds," Hamilton added. "And then the thinner gauge so you have less of the thermal blisters that we see and maybe we can be able to follow and have more racing."

Hamilton dominated the practice sessions on Friday night/Friday morning ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix - with the Silver Arrows driver beating Sebastian Vettel's time by nine tenths in FP1 and then eight tenths in FP2.