Pirelli ponders revising Formula 1 tyres in time for British GP Pirelli is considering an overhaul to its tyres for the British Grand Prix in late June in a bid to prevent excessive pitstops ruining the Formula 1 spectacle. After a four-stop Spanish Grand Prix reignited the debate about whether Pirelli's aggressive approach to 2013 had gone too far, its motorsport director Paul Hembery admitted on Sunday that changes were now being evaluated. "We aim for two to three pitstops and it was too aggressive today," he explained. "We want to get back to our plan."
Who benefits from it shouldn't matter at all? It's like the opposite of the Schumacher era, where the supplier is trying to screw over one team rather than help one. Right now the most important thing is that they prevent the two or three spectacular failures they're suffering each week. Apparently Alonso's first set of tyres had started to delaminate today, if he'd stayed out a lap longer he would've lost a net 25+ points to both Vettel and Raikkonen in the championship through something completely out of everyone's control. It's literally become a lottery with them, there's a distinct possibility a blowout could cost someone the title this season. They have to be changed. Hembery's been coming out with some crap about it being no worse than other years, it just looks worse because of the way they're failing. But they weren't having two or three deflations a weekend last season.
Hoping that it's not going to be a catastrophic failure, resulting in injury that gets these ridiculous tyres sorted out. I know people seem to like them, but I really have no care for inhibited racing. Kudos to Ferrari for sticking two fingers up to the tyres today!
Today out of the top ten we had 7 four stoppers and 3 three stoppers, I think thats a little to far. I've been more or less happy with the tyres so far as they should be a challenge but I agree with Pirelli that 2-3 stops is ideal, keeps the emphasis on the racing. Pirelli aren't kidding anyone though, the tyres are falling to pieces far more regularly than they did last season.
I don't mind four stop races as long as they're only once or twice a season. The thing I don't like is how slowly the drivers are having to go to make a four stopper work, if you're stopping that often you should be able to go hell for leather. The degradation is insane, drivers are pitting and setting lap times three or four seconds faster than people on 12 lap old tyres, we saw Vettel unable to pull away from Bianchi earlier and Gutierrez got the fastest lap, it's ridiculous. They seem to be degrading by three tenths per lap at times.
I think there's 2 separate issues here, the safety of the tyres and the degradation of the tyres. I don't think they have to be linked. Last season we had some races where you needed 3-4 stops, and whilst the deg was a little high, they were safe. This season we've again had a 3-4 stop race, but we've had several dangerous random failures, and been lucky they've happened on straights. The middle should not be getting ripped out of tyres, no matter how old they are.
This Don't mind tyre deg, teams can/should manage that but random blow ups is not good, esp. if the tyre was no where near the so called "Cliff"
As a random comparison in 2012 the Spanish GP was completed in 1h39m09s, this year is was completed in 1h39m17s. In 2012 there was 65 (2.71 per driver) scheduled pitstops, and this year there was 77 (3.5 per driver).
I think if the delimitation wasn't happening people wouldn't be so pissed about them. For me the tyres (right or wrong) shouldn't be changed now, it is what it is. thanks for those stats BLS, and sort of poo poos the argument IMO.
Couthard has some interesting things to say about this subject. I think he's hit the nail on the head really. F1 is, and always will be, limited by something. When we've had less obvious restraints like in the refuelling era, we had processional racing, now we're clearly limited by tyres, the argument is that the racing is artificial. A balance has to be struck. It's a shame really that DRS didn't come in a year earlier really. DRS and Pirelli's simultaneously means you can't really judge how much of an impact they are having individually. Would DRS alone have addressed the balance? Would Pirelli's without DRS give better racing?
Jon Noble ‏@NobleF1 3m Pirelli is to make structural changes to tyres from Canadian GP to ensure 2/3 stop races. Elements of 2012/2013 design merged. Story soon http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107421
Can you imagine the fall out if the order of car performance changes drastically, even if its through natural progression. If Red Bull (and to a lesser extent Mercedes) find themselves at the top post Canada Ferrari and Lotus will have a right paddy
According AMUS, the new tyres will not build as much heat up as the current tyres. "It is clear that Pirelli largely accepts the 2012 carcass. "But there are still some elements of this year's construction be included. The purpose of the amendment is that the mixtures do not heat up as much, especially at the rear." For the aerodynamics, this means a lot of work. The new tires are walken deform less and less in cornering. This could possibly be the salvation for teams like McLaren, Sauber and Williams. It will definitely also Red Bull and Mercedes help because they have a smaller range of chassis adjustments, to respond to the strong flexing of the tire. For Ferrari, Lotus and Force India, it may be bad news. This Hembery: "Pirelli Pirelli have to think about now."
tyre conservation has always been around, the most notable race I can remember was the 1986 Australian GP where tyre wear ended Rosbergs race and Mansell and Piquets WDC. I think it's too late to change the tyres, (although with the delaminations occuring I think they probably will be changed slightly). I doubt we'll see many more races with 4 stops unless it's a changeable weather race like canada 2011.
Mercedes could be back in the title race then. Favourites for the next race and then the tyres are being changed to suit them (not deliberately to suit them, just coincidentally). It's good news, the older construction doesn't explode spontaneously and they'll degrade far less meaning the drivers can push again. Personally I think they should go back to the 2011 construction with this year's compounds. Maybe next year...
