Pirelli To Test Experimental Hard Compound At Silverstone

It has been confirmed that Pirelli will issue the teams with a new experimental hard P Zero compound for free practice on Friday, when track action officially gets underway for this weekends British Grand Prix. The new experimental compound may well be used in the future, and has a slightly wider working range than the current hard compound.

This new tyre compound will be on offer to the teams alongside their usual allocation of tyres for the weekend. Once the two Friday practice sessions are over, the teams will revert to their usual P Zero hard (silver) and P Zero soft (yellow) tyres for the remainder of the weekend. The teams will also have the Cinturato intermediate (green) and full wet (blue) tyres on offer to them throughout the weekend.

“Silverstone is one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula One calendar, precisely because it is so demanding for the drivers, cars and tyres.” Explained Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery. “This is why we have chosen to test a new experimental hard compound here during free practice, which we may use in the future. The new tyre has a slightly wider working range, which should make it easier for the teams to get the tyres into the right operating temperature window. But with the Championship so finely balanced, our priority is to ensure that no one team is handed any particular advantage. We want to keep the performance of the tyres at the highest level for as long as possible, so this is a valuable opportunity for ourselves and all the teams to gather more information about the potential effect of a new compound, and gain some data for the future.”

Pirelli’s test driver Lucas di Grassi tested the new experimental compound earlier in the year around Jerez, and has stated how it is similar in concept to the current P Zero hard compound. The Brazilian raced in Formula 1 with Virgin Racing (now Marussia) in 2010, and has first hand experience around Silverstone along with his Pirelli team-mate Jaime Alguersuari.

“I drove the new Silverstone circuit at the 2010 British Grand Prix and it’s very interesting: high speed and high energy are the main characteristics, which has a big effect on the tyres because of all the aerodynamic grip.” Said Lucas di Grassi, “But traction is also tested a lot in the slower and more technical sections, particularly in terms of combined acceleration, when you are turning and accelerating at the same time. I tested the experimental hard compound tyre in Jerez earlier this year: it’s a similar concept to the current hard but with improved combined grip and better wear. It’s particularly effective in warm weather and when the track conditions are poor – so you end up with a tyre that is quicker and lasts longer.”

With the weather looking increasingly likely to be wet during Friday’s two practice sessions, it is conceivable to say that the new experimental Pirelli tyre compounds may not be used during the two 90 minute sessions. The rain is expected to linger throughout the weekend, which could well provide many spills and thrills as the drivers slip and slide around the Silverstone circuit.

Picture Copyright © Pirelli

Pirelli Wish To Stay As F1 Tyre Supplier Beyond 2013

Formula 1’s current tyre supplier Pirelli have disclosed their aim to continue supplying the sport with tyres beyond 2013, when their current three-year contract expires. After undeniably contributing to some highly unpredictable and competitive racing over the last two years, Pirelli have certainly made a name for themselves in F1.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery has confirmed that the Italian company see Formula 1 as a ‘medium-to-long-term’ project, and look eager to continue supplying their highly unpredictable and somewhat controversial tyres to the teams up and down the grid. Pirelli took over as the sole tyre supplier to Formula 1 in 2011, after long-time Japanese supplier Bridgestone decided not to renew their contract towards the end of 2009.

“Our current contract runs until the end of 2013, but we always intended to be in F1 for the medium-to-long term,” explained Paul Hembery in an interview with AutoSport. “The deadline for the 2014 decision is next June. If the sport wants us to stay and we can convince the board to continue, in light of economic conditions, then our intention is to go forward.”

Throughout the majority of the 2012 season, Pirelli’s tyres have been at the centre of attention. Where some agree that they have assisted in making this season one of the most entertaining in years, some believe that they are becoming too much of a dominant factor over the course of a weekend. However, Paul Hembery has stressed how the drivers must always remain the centre of attention.

“We were asked to provide fun and entertainment with our F1 tyres, although it was not our intention to become the discussion point for the weekend,” continued Paul Hembery to AutoSport. “We still want the drivers to be the stars of the show. Attracting new people to follow our sport isn’t easy, so I’d like us to build-up our drivers, and grow their profile as major international sporting stars, and have more visible personalities.”

Either way, it looks as though the unpredictability created by Pirelli’s tyres is set to continue beyond 2013.

Picture Copyright © Pirelli

Pirelli To Introduce Fifth Tyre Compound For 2013?

Pirelli’s motor sport director Paul Hembery has hinted that the Italian tyre supplier could introduce a fifth tyre compound next season, amid plans to introduce a number of changes to the hugely popular and somewhat controversial tyres.

The Pirelli tyres have undeniably played a dominating factor in the outcome of the seven races already run in 2012, with the degradation levels fluctuating at each track. Pirelli already offer four tyre compounds throughout the duration of the year to the teams – hard, medium, soft and super-soft – along with the two Cinturato wet compounds. Paul Hembery believes that a fifth tyre compound could make it easier for Pirelli to select tyres which are more suited to the characteristics of each of the varying tracks on the calendar.

“We want to make some changes, probably structurally to the tyre and possibly to the compounds, maybe a qualifying tyre,” Explained Paul Hembery to FM103.3 in Montreal. “Maybe even ask if we can have a few more compounds so that we can maybe adapt our show to each circuit a little bit better. Four compounds for 20 circuits is a tough challenge.”

Former Formula 1 driver Jaime Alguersuari, who is now a test driver for Pirelli, was aware that a fifth tyre compound could be introduced in 2013. With the Spaniard still confident on making a return to the sport next season, he believes the introduction of a fifth compound would make him more attractive to a potential team for next season.

“It could be [an option],” Said Jaime Alguersuari. “Nothing has yet been confirmed because we still have so many things to test. We have already done one test and we have some good conclusions, but there are a lot of things to follow, a lot of things we must continue to work on. We will make our opinions for next year. And for me it’s great because it gives me the chance to know a product that no else knows. For me, that’s fantastic.”

With some drivers split over whether the dominance of Pirelli’s tyres is good or bad for the sport, it’s undeniably spicing up the racing in 2012. With seven different winners in the first seven races of the season, a fifth tyre compound could make the racing even more exciting and unpredictable in 2013.

Picture Copyright © Pirelli

 

Pirelli Expecting Differing Strategies In Canada

For the second race in succession, Pirelli are bringing the P-Zero super-soft (red) and P-Zero soft (yellow) tyres to the race weekend. This weekend the F1 action takes to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, where spills and thrills usually come in abundance throughout the weekend.

Last year, the Canadian Grand Prix was run in exceedingly wet conditions which at one point stopped the race for nearly two hours. When the racing was resumed, Jenson Button stormed from the back of the pack to take a memorable victory with a last lap pass on Sebastian Vettel. With last years race so wet, the teams and drivers have little knowledge on how the Pirelli P-Zero Super-soft (red) tyres will behave.

With the characteristics of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve making it the hardest circuit all year on brakes, as well as extremely demanding on the rear tyres, the Pirelli tyres look set to once again play a significant role in the outcome of the Canadian Grand Prix. However, rain could well interrupt proceedings once again this weekend, thus forcing the drivers to opt for the Pirelli Cinturato intermediate (green) or full wet (blue) tyres.

“We go from Monaco to Canada: two of the most spectacular races of the year.” Explained Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery. “Not only is Montreal a fantastic place to hold a race, but it’s also a great circuit. The soft and supersoft tyres should be able to demonstrate more of their natural characteristics than they were able to in Monaco. The practice sessions will be vital for the teams to understand how exactly it works on full tanks in particular. We think we will see several different strategies at work, with teams likely to split their strategies in order to cover every possibility.”

The safety car is renowned for making regular appearances at the Canadian Grand Prix, with the majority of the track running in close proximity to the walls. Due to this factor, teams generally base their strategies around the safety car. However with no-one certain when or even if the safety car will be called upon, the teams tend to add flexibility to their strategies.

With the safety car having led 71 laps around the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in the last 10 years, the probability of the safety car making its 72nd lap around Montreal this weekend is extremely likely. Add the possibility of inclement weather, and this years Canadian Grad Prix is shaping up to be yet another classic race.

Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team

Pirelli Expecting One-Stop Strategies At Monaco

Although Pirelli’s super-soft tyre compound is making it’s debut at this weekends Monaco Grand Prix, Pirelli believe a one-stop tyre strategy could be used by some drivers who wish to utilize the many varying strategies open to them throughout the race.

With the Monte-Carlo track surface the least abrasive on the 2012 calendar, tyre wear is expected to be at its lowest throughout the weekend. The soft tyre compound, which is making its fifth appearance of 2012, is predicted to be able to last around 50 laps, a fact which could make a one-stop strategy for the midfield teams who qualify outside the top 10 an enticing option.

However, with the safety-car more than likely set to make an appearance throughout the race, the teams will need enough flexibility in their race strategies to be able to adapt to any sudden safety-car deployment. Although a one-stop strategy is an option some drivers’ may use, a three-stop strategy could also be very beneficial. Jenson Button used a three-stop strategy last season, and finished the race 3rd behind Fernando Alonso who made two stops and eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel who opted for a one-stop strategy. 

“With the wear rate being so low in Monaco, the drivers will be able to push at their hardest from start to finish.” Explained Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery, “Tyre strategy will be very important in Monaco, where on-track overtaking is more difficult than anywhere else. Having said that, the Principality has a history of often springing a surprise. With the cars so evenly matched now, even the slightest advantage or smallest mistake can have a big impact on the final outcome of a race, as we’ve seen so far this season.”

With such varying strategies being played out during last years Monaco Grand Prix, it’ll be intriguing to see how this years race pans out. The Pirelli tyres have been a major factor so far this season, and this weekend a new compound makes its debut in what is already regarded as the most exciting start to Formula 1 season in years.

Picture Copyright © Pirelli