Pirelli, increased vigilance in Austin after the Qatar disaster

Bouncing back from failure. Pirelli will once again be in the spotlight this weekend in Austin, less than a fortnight after the incidents in Qatar. At Losail, the Italian manufacturer experienced a real ordeal, with tire structures unsuitable for the constraints of the circuit, the vibrators and the heat, which consequently led to an emergency rule being imposed on limited stints with the rubber. A disaster that did not prevent F1 to extend its contract with the Italian company until 2027 two days later…

In the United States, Pirelli will also face an unprecedented challenge: for the first time since the arrival of the Circuit of the Americas in F1, in 2012, the Texan track will host not one, but two races this weekend! Sprint format obliges, it is with particular attention that the Italian manufacturer arrives in Austin.

“COTA as a complete circuit, with medium to high load-bearing levels, explains Mario Isola, the boss of Pirelli Motorsport, who wants to be reassuring about the wear of the rubber on the Texan track.The forces acting on the tires are mainly lateral and are fairly well balanced between front and rear, without any specific corner of the car being subjected to any particular stress. It is also important to have good traction in slow corners. »

Pirelli worries about bumps in Austin

One of the main characteristics of the American circuit is its asphalt, very often criticized because it is very bumpy despite the numerous resurfacings applied in recent years. “ The asphalt is still quite bumpy, despite the partial resurfacing that took place last year. This can cause the tire to slip very slightly, which is a potential cause of overheating. The degradation observed in Austin is mainly thermal, while graining is quite rare., specifies Mario Isola.

In Texas, drivers will have the choice between C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft) tires. This weekend more than ever, Pirelli will have to prove that its place in Formula 1 and its extension until 2027 are deserved, otherwise the wait until the end of 2027 (or more) risks being long...

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