Pirelli has announced that it will provide Formula One with a “new range” of tyres, starting at the Canadian Grand Prix on 7-9 June. The new tyres are described as a cross between the 2012 and 2013 models, and Pirelli has restated its hope to provide tyres that allow teams to make “two to three” pit stops per race. The change has followed mounting pressure from certain teams, the most prominent being Championship-leading Red Bull. Most recently Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz added his dissenting voice to team principal, Christian Horner in claiming that F1 is “nothing to do with racing any more”. His comments followed the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where the harsher conditions led to many drivers taking four pit stops. The revised construction of the new tyres is designed to dial back the focus on short-term performance in order to increase reliability. The current P Zero F1 range will make its final appearance at the Monaco Grand Prix on 24-26 May.

Having tested last week in colder than expected conditions, Pirelli will expect this week’s trip to Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya to offer Formula One teams a better idea of the combined performance of their 2013 cars on the new P Zeros. Taking place from Thursday to Sunday, the final four-day session will complete the 12 days of practice allowed before the season opening Australian grand prix in March. Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, said that he hoped to “find conditions that are slightly more representative, which will allow the teams to collect more relevant data.”