Pirelli 2013

[lebesset]

When you read an interview with Pirelli's CEO where he cheerfully admits that MrE asked them to make crappy tires in order to spice up his otherwise dull show, a "show" which basically is aimed solely at the yelling banner-men and half-naked beer-guzzlers.
Then it really makes you wonder over the future of F1, doesn't it?

As for myself, the only thing that brought me bck to F1T was the thread on next year's engines, it's just it's gonna all even out in 2015 anyway,when all the available excitement will be miniscule aerodynamic tweaks and unpredictable tires by Pirelli.

See and learn how to stay OT gentlemen.

I don't think pirelli [ or whoever agrees to take the contract ] will be asked to make marginal tyres next year
surely the rule changes for the cars will roll the dice sufficently

[stefan_]

Mario Keszeli ‏@techF1LES

Pirelli tyre data from James Calado's stint in #ForceIndia:

The differences in temperature between left and right are caused by the track?

[strad]

They have said the first year or even two will be a crap shoot, so I don't see where we need, as if we ever did, these quick degradation tires any longer.

[WhiteBlue]

Yep, makes no sense next year and we all now it. I just hope the policy keeps that in mind and does not revert back to crap shots.

[FrukostScones]

the new tyre side wall looks rounder to me, visible difference to 2013 tyre.
will Sauber and McLaren gain?

[Huntresa]

http://grandprix247.com/2013/07/18/pire ... espionage/

[WhiteBlue]

They're things that have to change, we couldn't possibly risk putting ourselves in that situation again. There's no doubt it has to change. If the sport doesn't want to change then they can find someone else. We want to stay obviously but we need to make some changes, we can't just keep talking about it, things now have to change.

I'm not going to criticise the FIA because I don't think it's necessarily their issue. We were working better with the teams. The teams in the first year were quite a lot better at working together and we've seen that dissipate over the last two and a half years. That's not just with us, I think there's lots of things going on there behind the scenes with new agreements - the Concorde Agreement - and things like that, some teams struggling, so there's a lot more friction between the teams than we've seen before. Whilst individually we have fantastic support from all of them, collectively it's not quite there.

We're working forward for next year. Time is passing on. I mean, we don't need to do Formula One to survive as a business; it's a part of the company. In November we might be packing up and going and then it's somebody else's problem, but we've made every effort we can to get things sorted. We haven't given any deadlines, we're just working on; maybe we're silly doing that, maybe we should have insisted on things being sorted. It's mid-July and I if somebody wants to come in and take over I think they would be very brave, because the issues we've been suffering with would be issues that any company would have problems with, quite frankly.

There is certainly some truth in this. I find it amazing that Pirelli plan the next two private tyre tests with their own old test car. That cannot be helpful in the current situation. On the other hand it is a step in the right direction that they announced the 2014 tyres will be much more durable and have a wider operating window. Pirelli should not bow to pressure from Bernie to spice up the show artificially by fast degrading tyres that can be dangerous. Safety must be the first consideration. If there is no way to test ahead with the 2014 power units they must come up with very conservative safety margins that are substantially bigger than the original 2013 safety margins.

[lebesset]

maybe we should revert to the old type of F1 tyres ...tyres that are fully cured in the mould so that they don't have the early performance advantage of softer treads until they have been subject to another heat cycle

it used to be that drivers could use a set of tyres for a race , then use them for the next race as well if undamaged !

limit the number of sets of tyres for the season , harder rubber required , less marbles would equal better overtaking opportunities , costs would be lowered ; does anyone know why unused tyres are destroyed after a race ? I have always presumed that it is because they are not fully cured so that they can't be mixed with tyres from a fresh batch for a later race as they will be different

surely this would be possible , tyres for endurance racing are made to last , look at le mans , up to 750Km on a set

[strad]

been pushing for hard tires for years. No one wants it because they're whores for lap times and easy gains.

[WhiteBlue]

In other forms we've been involved in motorsport for 110 years - that's longer than any of the F1 teams - and we'll be in motorsport probably for another 100 years when they've all gone, so we'll carry on.

Hembery gives the teams a nice tongue lashing there. But there is no way around the fact that Pirelli got suckered into more and more fragile tyres by Ecclestone until they did not provide adequate safety margins. They could have backed out of it at any time by simply saying no to demands of the pushing even harder. Or they could have had a word with the FiA before the tyres blew out in Silverstone. Talk is cheap Paul!

[FoxHound]

Sure, crossing swords with ecclestone is easy right.

The road f1 has travelled is littered with people dispatched unceremoniously by ecclestone.
What makes you think Pirelli have the appetite to take on the man that brought them in in the first place?

[strad]

Pirelli should not bow to pressure from Bernie to spice up the show artificially by fast degrading tyres that can be dangerous. Safety must be the first consideration

Sorry but wrong on both counts.
Pirelli has no choice but to do what is effectively their boss wants.
IF F1 wanted hard as rock tires, that's what they would get...Whatever the cutomer orders. They can refuse.
Safety taking over being the "first concideration" is in part what is ruining the sport.

[WhiteBlue]

Strad, I do respect your opinion but I will fundamentally disagree where I see lives unnecessarily put at risk for entertainment purposes. Tyres, brakes and wing stability are safety items on high downforce single seater race cars and in my world there cannot be a compromise when it comes to the integrity of such components. David Coulthard has called tyres that blow out "driver killers" and he is spot on with that opinion. I know you grew up when drivers were regularly killed in F1 and you have a nostalgic notion about those times. Let your feelings not cloud the reasoning over serious questions like safety components. Is one more pit stop per race worth the life of a race driver? I think not.

[strad]

I agree ,,,UP TO A POINT...But safety should not lead the way...It should not be the primary concern.
This thing should not be safe. Was there a time when it could have been safer? Most certainly. Have we gone too far? Yes.
Not many understand and I've grown to accept that things beyond my control have warped the way whole societies see things, but it just isn't supposed to be something that millions think they could do. Quite the opposite millions should look at it and go..." no friggin way..I have a wife and family and I would be frightened,,,No Thanks".
When drivers can pop out of a wreck such as Button had at Monaco where he speared the barried after the tunnel at the chicane, ready to drive ten minutes later saying that now that he knows how safe the car is he can take even bigger risks, something is wrong .
BTW...Never think that I have not cried my eyes out as child and man over heros who have paid the ultimate price.
But also understand. they can not become heros if they do not risk that ultimate sacrifice. Otherwise it's just a fancy fair ride.

[autogyro]

I agree with WB that drivers lives should not be put at risk for entertainment purposes.
That is the point though isnt it?
F1 today is just an entertainment exercise for the benefit of the media.
It no longer has anything to do with technological innovation and development.

In support of Strad, I have a friend who has a number of world records and is a twice holder of the Segrave Trophy.
Last year he was preparing for another world record with his special aircraft.
The CAA demanded to first test the aircraft using an unqualified test pilot with no time whatsoever on such special aircraft.
The record attempt was dropped because my friend believed this 'test' pilot would be in more danger than himself.
So now Britain does not hold the outright speed record for the type and there is no world first for an all electric rotor craft.
My friend does not understand why he is being prevented from undertaking these risks even if he loses his life in the attempt.

F1 is no different from most things today.
It has been emaciated to fit in with our current society of weedy whimps.
It will only change when the do gooders finaly allow the third world to take over our country.