Pirelli to try new soft tyre in practice in Germany

[Forzi]

Pirelli wil try out a new version of its soft tyre in Friday practice at the German Grand Prix.

The tyre firm's motorsport boss Paul Hembery said the revised compound was part of efforts to make the Pirelli range slightly more durable to ensure the number of pitstops in races did not become excessive.

"It's not a big change from the current specification, but it is designed to fit in line with our latest versions of the P Zero Silver hard tyre and P Zero White medium, both of which are a little harder than their original specification in order to reduce degradation," he said.

Hembery added that the tyre was still being evaluated at present and there were no firm plans for its introduction.

"There's no decision yet on when we might use the new tyre yet, but it will be very interesting to hear all the feedback from the teams," he said.


Hope it's better then the hards they introduced the last time

[scuderiafan]

so they are trying to make the supersofts soft, the softs mediums, the mediums hards, and the hards superhards?

[Greig]

Not really no, they are just learning and adapting as they go, which in the long run is a good thing.

[scuderiafan]

learning is good, but whenever these tires are introduced, it just seems that the only difference is that they have less grip.

the drivers say they aren't that much more durable.

the lack of tyre war is stopping them a little bit, but so is the lack of testing.

[Ophidian786]

Advantage Red Bull?

The harder they get the slower we roll.

[NJB13]

I find it interesting that some mid season changes are accepted fait accompli.

[Hornet]

learning is good, but whenever these tires are introduced, it just seems that the only difference is that they have less grip.

the drivers say they aren't that much more durable.

the lack of tyre war is stopping them a little bit, but so is the lack of testing.

Agree with this. Its unfair to the teams who have tried to adopt to the tires they have now and Pirelli keeps moving the goal post.

Do it during the winter testing. And if Jean Todt can bring back mid season testing next year, even better. But for now, give the team a break. They don't even have enough running to test new aero updates, and now they have new tires as well.

[Greig]

That's why they are just bringing them for team to test then listen to the teams feedback, they are just for test as the article says they might not be used if the teams feedback is not good.

[Fiondella]

The problem i guess is that the teams only have race weekends to do their testing and bringing in a tyre that isn't part of the race weekend detracts from testing updates and evolutionary components, but this applies equally to every team....

Also the blown diffuser mid season change u turn is comparable here; they had a set of tyres that were tested before the beginning of the season by all the teams so why should some teams benefit and others not from mid season tyre revisions

[SilverSpeed]

So 1 extra set of tyres for this weekend?

Nice anyway hehe and they still are learning as it's their first season after their comeback so they are finding out while they go with the flow.

[sagi58]

That's why they are just bringing them for team to test...

Uhmmm... isn't in-season testing banned?
How is Pirelli getting around that particular rule?

[sagi58]

so they are trying to make the supersofts soft, the softs mediums, the mediums hards, and the hards superhards?

This whole Pirelli developing all kinds of tires and then having the sole decision as to what 2 tires are
available on race weekends is getting very old. It's frustrating, to say the least, to know they have tires
that suit one team than another and that they get to choose who gets the "advantage " that weekend!!

It's like going into lingerie store offering all their lovely lacy frilly things on sale and then being told that
you can only get one bra and one pair of panties!! It's just not fair!!

[Greig]

Was the same with Bridgestone, why is it getting old now?

There is a reason why they pick what compounds to bring to each track, and it really has nothing to do with suiting one team or another, what races have they brought tyres just to favour one team? They said long ago when they first got the contract that it's a learning process for them as well and they will adapt to the data and info they get as they learn how the tyres work, I suppose they could just make 2 compounds that work on every track, medium and hard I guess would be needed to ensure that the compounds work on any track.

Seems some are just never happy

[Greig]

Uhmmm... isn't in-season testing banned?
How is Pirelli getting around that particular rule?

Uhmmmm we test new parts all the time in practice, just as Pirelli done in Canada with the medium tyre, and will do so again.....

Pirelli are not a team either so the in season testing ban probably does not apply to them.....

[sagi58]

Was the same with Bridgestone, why is it getting old now?

Actually, I didn't like it then and I don't like it now any better!
Honestly, I think the teams should decide, as part of their strategy, which tires they feel are best suited at each track.

Uhmmmm we test new parts all the time in practice, just as Pirelli done in Canada with the medium tyre, and will do so again.....

Pirelli are not a team either so the in season testing ban probably does not apply to them.....

Shhh!! I was on a roll with that analogy!!

[Greig]

So what's your solution? 2 compounds to do every track?

[sagi58]

So what's your solution? 2 compounds to do every track?

I must have read your mind, as I answered your question before you posed it!

[Greig]

So how many compounds should be allowed to choose from? and will teams foot the bill for the all these tyres Pirelli have to make just in case?

[sagi58]

Hmmm interesting questions, for which I don't have the experience or the know-how to answer!
Having said that, maybe a common sense approach would work? Let's say Pirelli has XX number
of tires to choose from. For each race, teams are allowed a set number of tires of their choice
which can be ordered ahead of time. Possibly, if all sets aren't used, the teams can bank them
for the next race? Also, due consideration must be given to weather conditions, so I guess we'd
need Pirelli to bring "wets" and possibly "intermediates", still within the set limit of tires/race?
I don't know that the cost would be any different, if there is a limit set on how many sets can
be used at each event.

How am I doing? (( probably not so good, now that I think of it, eh?? ))

[Greig]

Suppose they could do that but then you run the risk of a team really getting too close to Pirelli, like we did with Bridgestone and just dominate the season

[Fiondella]

Suppose they could do that but then you run the risk of a team really getting too close to Pirelli, like we did with Bridgestone and just dominate the season

Nothing wrong with that. Come on Pirelli stop messing about and get into bed with us. You know it makes sense

[sagi58]

Suppose they could do that but then you run the risk of a team really getting too close to Pirelli, like we did with Bridgestone and just dominate the season

Much as I like the idea (( )); is there no way to ensure that doesn't happen?
Say a panel within FOTA that manages the details? "Another" FIA committee?