F1 News
Date: 24/May/2013
Pirelli has hit back at criticism from some quarters over
its F1 tyres and appears to be growing impatient at the lack of a 2014 contract.
Pirelli took over from Bridgestone as F1’s exclusive tyre
supplier for the 2011 season, with a brief to brighten up the races with a high
rate of tyre wear.
Many believe the approach has succeeded, with the sudden
drop off in tyre life keeping the outcome unpredictable until the closing
stages.
But as the teams understand the tyres, the unpredictability
fades and Pirelli says it was asked to shake up the tyre allocation for 2013.
Some - notably Lotus and Ferrari - seem to have got it
right, while the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes have struggled to maintain grip
at some events.
“The tyres, on occasion, have been a bit too marginal this
year,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner. “That includes races we've won at in
Malaysia and Bahrain.”
A four-stop race last time at Barcelona prompted furthers
grumbles and Pirelli subsequently announced that its tyres will be revised from
the Canadian round, which follows this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
“We set out this year for two to three pit stops over the
season, we probably will average that still, we will get some races like
Barcelona which was won this time with four stops,” said Pirelli’s Paul
Hembery.
The Englishman then responded directly to the complaints of
Horner and some in the media:
“Barcelona was won two years ago by Red Bull with four stops
so it's not exceptional. But I guess as commentators it's harder to follow, it
keeps you awake, you don't have your afternoon snooze anymore.”
With some teams openly challenging any tyre changes, Pirelli
faces an almost impossible task. With no unanimous agreement likely, the only
changes Pirelli can make are for safety purposes.
Hembery appeared to confirm that Pirelli’s main aim for
Canada is to halt the dramatic tyre ‘delaminations’ suffered by some drivers.
“We're still finalising the ultimate details for Canada.
We're trying to minimise the changes, for sporting equity reasons of course.
“We want to resolve the tyre delaminations that have
occurred when [drivers] picked up debris. The tyres have stayed inflated but it
still doesn't look good from an image point of view. So that's where we're at.
“I think a good step forward to avoid problems in future would
be winter testing in hot conditions. If we were able to get to Abu Dhabi or
Bahrain before we get to Australia, at least you'd have an advanced indication
[of any tyre issues].”
Looking further ahead, when asked about the main challenge
Pirelli faces in terms of the new 2014 engine regulations, Hembery quipped: “A
contract is probably the first one.
“If you follow the regulations, on the first of September
we're meant to define the specification for next year, but as yet we don't
really have a full picture of what the cars are going to be like.
“Next season - assuming we have a contract, which we don't
have at the moment - you could get a situation where the new powertrain, which
from the indications of the teams will have a lot of torque and will increase
wheelspin, tyre wear, overheating, you could end up in a situation with a
[tyre] surprise again.”
Hembery concluded with another jab at Pirelli’s detractors:
“So I think next year we'll probably step back and be cautious: zero tyre degradation,
no pit stops and they can do all the talking.”
Pirelli received support from F1 legend Alain Prost, present
at Monaco this weekend as an ambassador for Renault
“In the past F1 was heavily criticised for not having a show
or any uncertainty in the races,” said the four time World Champion. “We should
[feel] very lucky that we have these kind of races now. I wouldn't criticise
what we have today.”
On track, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes
one-two in Thursday practice, followed by the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and
Felipe Massa.
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