Tyre failure not the cause of Vettel deflation, says Pirelli
Following what it describes as an “extensive investigation” of the circumstances leading Sebastian Vettel’s tyre-related exit from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Pirelli says its engineers have ruled out the possibility that a structural failure of the tyre was causal factor. “We can confirm that a structural failure was not the cause of Sebastian Vettel’s deflation in Abu Dhabi, a conclusion that we have arrived at together with Red Bull Racing following a detailed examination and analysis of the remains of the tyre,” stated Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery. “We cannot rule out debris on the track causing damage to the tyre, which then provoked a deflation, but having looked at the track closely there is no direct evidence of this.”
The tyre in question was a part of a set of P Zero Yellow softs that the Red Bull Racing driver had used to qualify on pole the day before. Following the incident at the first corner, Vettel completed a lap in order to return to the pits, during which the flapping rubber caused damage to the bodywork and running gear, forcing the world champion into his first retirement of the year. Although little remained of the tyre afterwards, Pirelli says there was enough for its engineers to carry out a full investigation in collaboration with Red Bull Racing. Analysis of the tyre showed structural failure of the tyre or valve was not a cause of the incident.
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