Pirelli brings 'Zandvoort' prototype tire to Barcelona

Aware of the challenge represented by the very steep turns of the Dutch circuit which is returning to the calendar, Pirelli doesn't want to take any risks.

The Italian manufacturer therefore asked all the teams to test a front tire specially designed for the track. Zandvoort and its banking whose slope is twice that of Indianapolis. The track which will welcome the Dutch Grand Prix in early May has just been resurfaced with new asphalt.

“This prototype was thought and designed with a slightly different architecture because we are still analyzing the data provided by Zandvoort, revealed Mario Isola, director of Pirelli Motorsport.

We have studied hilly corners and the aim is to run these tires with slightly higher pressures. To prepare as best as possible, and because we don't have all the latest figures from the circuit, for example regarding the abrasiveness of the tarmac, we want to do some testing here in Barcelona.

Isola immediately clarified that this was in no way an emergency measure taken in panic. “We talked about it with the FIA ​​beforehand and we agreed, added the Italian official. We follow a very serious and professional protocol to cover any eventuality.

In the end, we may use "normal" tires with the usual pressure levels, but we prefer to test the behavior of these prototypes with different architecture in winter tests. Isola specifies that the prototype tested this week in Catalonia will be made from the C2 compound.

If Pirelli chooses to opt for this construction, the front tires of the three compounds selected for the Zandvoort weekend will have this special architecture. So as not to relive the farce of the 2005 United States Grand Prix…