Decision on 2020 Pirelli tires to be made by Monday

So switching to 2020 tires or maintaining 2019 rubber? This is the big question emerging from the traditional post-season tests in Abu Dhabi. 

Pirelli hoped that the favorable running conditions in the United Arab Emirates would allow the 10 teams on the grid to better appreciate the qualities and improvements provided by its new products. 

But the verdicts remained cautious, even mixed. So much so that it is not out of the question to see the 2020 tires simply put away in the closet.

« The teams shared their telemetry data at the end of each day of testing, Isola confided to Yas Marina in recent days. We will obviously do our analysis on our side. We want to study representative relays and draw the necessary conclusions.

We don't have much time, the decision has to be made by Monday December 9th as we have to select the compounds for the 2020 Australian and Bahrain Grands Prix as well as the Barcelona winter testing of course ».

If the Italian official claims not to have « no problem » to keep the 2019 tires, he readily recognizes that it would be a shame to “ see a year of development go to waste ". " If the 2020 tires do not meet expectations, we need to understand why this is not the case and see where we can improve the development process “, clarified Isola. 

At the time of writing, the tires approved for next year are the 2020 rubbers and compounds. If, however, the teams want to decide in favor of maintaining the status quo, the FIA ​​will not oppose a vote Or a majority of 70%, or 7 out of 10 teams, must be united to tip the scales towards 2019 tires.