Pirelli: Our tests were in compliance with the FIA

Pirelli gave a press conference to respond in particular to the accusations of private tests carried out with Mercedes. The Italian manufacturer assured that the only tires used for these tests were development compounds for the 2014 season and that it was not its responsibility that the Mercedes W04 was used. The supplier of the F1 also affirmed that the experimental tires which will be tested during free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix have not been tested by any driver, the delamination phenomenon having been resolved in the laboratory and not on the track.

“We were very disappointed by the media reaction to Pirelli’s testing.”, commented Paul Hembery, the manufacturer's sporting director. “We have worked to eliminate the phenomenon of delamination. These problems only occurred four times and always due to debris on the track. These tests were carried out without Mercedes knowing which tires they were using. They did not use tires that will be used this year. The choice to use the 2013 car comes from direct communication between the team and the FIA. We have decided in agreement with the drivers and teams to bring our new tires for the Canadian Grand Prix which will be introduced in the race for Silverstone. Pirelli technicians solved the delamination problem only with laboratory tests. The company has always respected the agreements made with the FIA, the teams and the organizers of the Championship, as well as the principles of sporting fairness. »

Pirelli insisted on the fact that Mercedes AMG had not gained any benefit from these tests, not knowing what tires they were running on. “These tests were carried out with a single type of rubber which has never been used in a Championship. These tests were carried out blind, meaning that the teams had no information about the specifications being tested or the objective of the tests. These sessions were not carried out in order to eliminate the phenomenon of delamination. Pirelli has always requested representative cars that would offer similar performance to those operated in the current Championship. »

Concerning the operation of the Mercedes W04 for the tests carried out on the Catalunya circuit, Pirelli disclaims all responsibility and ensures that the FIA ​​was aware of all the details of this session. “The choice of car used for testing was the subject of direct discussions between Mercedes and the FIA ​​as evidenced by the exchange of emails between the team and Pirelli. Mercedes informed Pirelli that the car from the 2011 season could not be used and that it had already contacted the FIA ​​to use the car from the 2013 season. Questions about the type of car used were the sole responsibility of the team . »

Finally, Pirelli returned in detail to the new tires which will be tested at the Canadian Grand Prix. The F1 supplier ensures that the characteristics of the rubbers will remain identical. If the manufacturer specifies that the safety of the drivers was not called into question, these changes nevertheless seem not to comply with the regulations which stipulate that any modification made to the tires must be carried out solely for the safety of the competitors. “The tires which will have a Kevlar structure brought to the teams for the free practice of the Grand Prix in Montreal will be tested for the first time on the track following the work carried out in the laboratory. These new rubbers will solve the delamination problem. This phenomenon did not compromise the safety of the pilots but risked being harmful to the image of the brand. At the Canada trials, teams will be able to give their opinions and make observations. Pirelli did not make any changes to the lifespan of the tires and therefore to the number of pit stops, because it did not receive unanimous approval from the teams. »