“A slightly conservative approach was necessary” for Pirelli in 2017

A year after undertaking a revolution in their tire formula (width increased by 25%), Mario Isola, director of Pirelli Motorsport, returned to CARhebdo on the lessons and perspectives of its commitment as the sole manufacturer of the Formula 1.

The roadmap was respected according to the Italian manager. “We started seven years ago with a very clear request for degradation to increase the number of pit stops, in order to energize the show. This time, more consistent tires were needed so that the pilots can attack over time. We had to redefine all the rubbers using new materials. […] So yes, a big challenge, but also the satisfaction of having achieved our objectives. »

As a result, the 2017 season saw almost half as many pit stops as in 2016 (533 compared to 933), and some drivers complained about components that were too hard and difficult to heat up. « Having a somewhat conservative approach was necessary, recognizes Mario Isola. In the second half of the season, with more data coming from the cars, we were more aggressive in the selection of rubber qualities, but the choice was limited by the range approved at the start of the year. This is why the decision was made to soften the entire 2018 range.”

Next year, a new tire (the hyper soft pink sidewall) will be introduced. Post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix testing served as a calibration for this component. “The hyper soft provides a lot of grip, but the degradation is corresponding […] It will be ideal for city circuits like Monaco and Baku (Azerbaijan), perhaps also for Montreal and Spielberg. Singapore, I'm not sure because there are 23 turns and high temperature. »

Finally, the blister problem causes less problem for the manufacturer. “It seems to say that the new front tire profile and the new construction are satisfactory. »

Find our full interview with Mario Isola in issue 2143 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.