The Pirelli 2020 range in search of love

To say that the 2020 tires entrusted to the teams in Austin for a “discovery” test received a mixed reception is an understatement that did not escape Mario Isola, Motorsport Director of the Italian manufacturer. Invited to answer questions – anxieties? – teams, he was reassuring.

" Yes, he asserted, the feedback is a little mixed. We had somewhat difficult conditions in Austin. It was very cold and the new tires have a design that uses a different philosophy.

The plan is to test them again in Abu Dhabi (Nov 29-Dec 1 Editor's note) where we will have two full days of testing after the Grand Prix. The comparison with the 2019 tires will be much more reliable than in Austin.

We tested these new tires with the teams during the season and found an improvement in terms of overheating. This new construction was necessary to respond to the increased performance of the cars.

If we do not touch the constructions, the only possibility is to increase the starting pressure, and we know that by doing this, overheating is worse and behavior is worse. Also, the new construction was designed with the aim of keeping the pressure as low as possible, in line with the increased performance of the car.

I understand perfectly that the teams prefer to concentrate on the race during meetings and that they have not been able to adjust the settings to these new tires which have a different profile. They are wider, especially at the rear, and this has an impact on the downforce and balance of the car.

We need a little more time, especially on the long runs, to understand if we have achieved our goals. Then we will be happy to discuss the test results with the teams and see what is best for the sport." See you after Abu Dhabi, so…