Pirelli will change its tires at the Canadian Grand Prix

The incessant criticism and the too many pit stops during the Spanish Grand Prix will ultimately have restored sanity to Pirelli. After conceding that its tires were degrading too quickly, the Italian manufacturer decided to review its formula. From the Canadian Grand Prix, which will take place from June 7 to 9, it will bring new tires intended to resolve the problems encountered since the start of the season.

“Our objective is to provide teams with a new range which will be a mix between the stability of 2012 compounds and the performance of current tires”, explains Paul Hembery, Pirelli's sports branch director. “As a company, we have always moved quickly to make improvements when we saw it was necessary. After studying the data from the first five races this year, we decided to introduce a new evolution as it became clear during the Spanish Grand Prix that the number of pit stops was too high. This GP was won with four pit-stops, which had only happened once in our history. »

After persisting in the wrong direction after the first four Grand Prix of the year, the official supplier of the Formula 1 finally admits his mistake. And explains it in part because of the “limited testing time”. “It is now clear that our original tire range from 2013 was probably too performance oriented in view of the current regulations. Our tires were developed very carefully in simulations which did not, in fact, take sufficiently into account the improved speed of F1, more than 3 seconds faster per lap. However, we have identified the problem and are determined to resolve it quickly. ", explains the boss of Pirelli Motorsport. Before questioning the current format of pre-season tests. “It should be noted that the policy currently in place for winter testing limits the opportunity to test tires in the same conditions as during races, due to lower temperatures and limited time. The teams are of the same opinion and we want a longer testing period in different locations for the next tests. »

Also read in AUTOhebdo n°1909, available now in digital version and this Wednesday in all newsstands, “Pirelli makes its mea culpa”. An open and candid interview with Paul Hembery, the boss of Pirelli Motorsport.