Hamilton cuts the 2021 tires

He bit his tongue for several seconds before responding. Asked about his feelings with the 2021 tire prototypes made available to the teams by Pirelli during the first free practices of the Bahrain GP, Lewis Hamilton had nothing positive to report. 

Hence this attempt at diversion at first. 

« I have the greatest respect for the Pirelli teams who provide us with tires on all race weekends and ensure our safety, the pilot began by responding Mercedes in the evening of a day in which he dominated the 2 sessions. They do a great job ».

Before getting to the heart of the subject (and the problem). 

« Unfortunately, we have had the same tires for 2 years now., continued Hamilton. At the end of 2019, we were offered a new tire, like every year. Except it was worse so we decided to keep the same product. So they had 2 years to develop better rubber and we arrive here with a tire that weighs 3 kilos more and turns out to be 1 second slower. 

For fans, it doesn't make a big difference, but we work with brands and partners who are at the cutting edge of technology and are doing everything to move forward. They don't know what happens when you go backwards after 2 years of development. This is a source of concern. I prefer to keep the current tires if they don't have a better solution in the boxes ». 

This first return will not be likely to reassure Pirelli one year from the transition to 18-inch envelopes in Formula 1, even if the Italian manufacturer can rely on the work carried out in Formula 2 this season. 

Hamilton, however, is not convinced that the situation will improve with the arrival of the new format.

« I went to Paris on behalf of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association, Editor’s note) to discuss the subject with the FIA, the teams, and Pirelli because the drivers' opinions had not been taken into account at all in the previous mission letterhe concluded. 

We exchanged a lot by email to help them and the result is always the same. I don't see what more we can do. I don't know if we've reached the end of technology or if they've reached their limits. 

We need reduced downforce and more mechanical grip and tires play an important role in this equation. But I don't feel like we're going in that direction. ». 

Remember that the 2021 prototypes, which will be tested again in Abu Dhabi, are only an update of the 2019 tires kept for this season.