Division and indecision over Pirelli F1 tyres

Pirelli’s decision to make wholesale changes to its range of P Zero Formula One tyres, as well as the sole tyre supplier’s future in the series, are hanging in the balance going into this weekend’s Monaco grand prix. The tyre maker appeared ready to go ahead with a plan to supply altered tyres from June – thought to be a mix between the features of the current rubber and last year’s model – but behind-the-scenes negotiations have followed that announcement.

While it is thought that primarily Force India, and more quietly Lotus and Ferrari, have reservations about changes, Pirelli may be able to avoid any attempted veto of its decision. Somewhat ironically, avoiding the need for a unanimous agreement from the teams would require Pirelli to stress the need to change the tyres as a safety measure. It seems therefore a much more attractive option for Pirelli to get all the F1 teams on-side about its proposed change: replacing the steel belt in the rear tyre with the Kevlar version run in 2012. The teams not wholly behind this change argue that the knock-on effect of this measure would be to reduce the operating temperature of the rear tyres, allowing them to be run longer – an effect that seems likely to favour Red Bull, among others.

Despite drivers such as defending champion, Sebastian Vettel suggesting the tyres have safety issues, Pirelli has consistently defended the safety record of its current F1 rubber. While rear tyres have delaminated this year, Pirelli contends that this has occurred as a result of debris, and that the tyres remained safe. For this reason, Force India deputy team principal, Bob Fernley told Autosport.com that he believes Pirelli’s concern is more for protecting its image. 

This may not be entirely fair, since Pirelli has made no bones about the fact that it wants to provide performance oriented tyres that by definition degrade quicker. This was also the desire of F1 chief, Bernie Ecclestone, who recently defended Pirelli by suggesting that drivers “have to use their brains and start thinking about how to win races.” If we are to take Ecclestone’s claim that “[t]he easiest thing for Pirelli would be to produce tyres that you put on at the first race of the season and take off at the last” at face value, Pirelli should at least be credited with helping to make the racing more strategic through higher tyre wear. Indeed, it could be argued that the increased focus on tyres in F1 brought about by these specifications has been a credit to Pirelli’s profile – the company has certainly secured an increased amount of coverage for both itself and for the subject of tyre performance in general.

“Maybe we won’t be here…”

While all this is going on, Pirelli Motorsport director, Paul Hembery has stressed the need for a new contract to be signed for 2014, when a raft of new regulations will mean the most drastic alterations in car development for many years. He told Reuters that the lack of agreement could create problems, since teams will require the full details of the 2014 tyre specifications by 1 September. 

Without a contract in place, Pirelli is understandably loathe to work on the development of next year’s rubber, meaning that any delays with have repercussions on the time allowed for testing. “Things are getting, as far as we can see, extremely serious because the changes next year are so substantial that the sport has to make a rapid decision,” he told Reuters, adding a not entirely veiled threat that Pirelli “won’t be here anyway”.

Of course, Hembery will be keen to secure the marketing potential of F1 for the tyre manufacturer, as well as the development time for the 2014 tyres, as soon as possible. While clearly a difficult job to supply tyres to F1, Pirelli often relishes the synergy between its own image and arguably the most glitzy, high-end motorsport brand in the world. But with few other options – barring the suggestion that a certain American-owned brand is interested again – it still seems the most likely outcome will be another Pirelli contract, despite the bluster of the last few weeks.

Related news:

• Ecclestone lends support to Pirelli
• Pirelli bows to F1 pressure with ‘new range’ to debut in Canada
• ‘We don’t make concessions to 1 or 2 teams’ – Paul Hembery interviewed
• ‘Too many’ pit stops at Spanish Grand Prix – Pirelli