I wonder what this is really all about. Has Pirelli been stung too hard by the complaints?
Pirelli will bring an experimental hard compound to the British Grand Prix in order to test its performance during Friday practice.
On top of the usual allocation of hard and soft compound tyres, the teams will have two sets of the new compound to use during the first two practice sessions. The new tyre has a wider operating window than the current hard tyre, which Pirelli is hoping will make it easier for drivers to use.
"Silverstone is one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula One calendar, precisely because it is so demanding for the drivers, cars and tyres," Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery said. "This is why we have chosen to test a new experimental hard compound here during free practice, which we may use in the future. The new tyre has a slightly wider working range, which should make it easier for the teams to get the tyres into the right operating temperature window."
Pirelli has yet to decide whether it will introduce the new tyre at races, but is undertaking the test to give all the teams an opportunity to try the compound - assuming it stays dry.
"With the championship so finely balanced, our priority is to ensure that no one team is handed any particular advantage," Hembery added. "We want to keep the performance of the tyres at the highest level for as long as possible, so this is a valuable opportunity for ourselves and all the teams to gather more information about the potential effect of a new compound, and gain some data for the future. Silverstone is a very high-energy circuit that can see some unpredictable weather conditions, so a strong performance from the tyres and an effective strategy are vital ingredients in a successful race outcome."
Pirelli test driver Lucas di Grassi added: "I tested the experimental hard compound tyre in Jerez earlier this year: it's a similar concept to the current hard but with improved combined grip and better wear. It's particularly effective in warm weather and when the track conditions are poor - so you end up with a tyre that is quicker and lasts longer."
To achieve anything, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.”
Sir Stirling Moss
I read this as Hembery saying "Red Bull have basically got us sussed, so we need to simplify the tyres so the other teams can keep up with them".
Whether there's a backlash from consumers not buying as many tyres as their forecasts suggest, only they know. I tried asking whether the performance would have an effect on sales in another thread but we couldn't find a consensus. Personally, I think for sure they would have to cop some blowback from consumers, regardless of whether consumers differentiate that F1 tyres are different from road tyres, the P Zero is a contentious brand - people want a safe consistent performer and all the warm goodness feelings that they bring - especially when they are carrying their kinds in the back.
Cam wrote:I tried asking whether the performance would have an effect on sales in another thread but we couldn't find a consensus.
To be fair - the views of the replies in said thread tended for the most part towards "no it would not." And I fully stand by that sentiment, which I held then and still do now.
A wider working window on the tyres in my view is good, in that it removes the factor that setup makes a huge difference. This year, car-wise the performance differentiation IMO comes from on-song tyres, setup and the chassis. This way we can limit it to just setup and chassis.
I'd be surprised if this was the only compound they've "tested." Difference between "testing" and using, on a race weekend. I'd say it's not uncommon for a tire company to track test a dozen compounds over a season in various uses or configurations.
In any event, interesting move. How much does it have to do with brand image? Who knows. Could just as well be teams lobbying for something more consistent so all their pre-event engineering work doesn't just get lumped into a crap shoot.
Grip is a four letter word. All opinions are my own and not those of current or previous employers.
It's a new "hard" compound that would replace the current "hard" compound.
Between this and the new "medium" that was introduced in Valencia, a construction with greater durability without a loss in performance, I wonder if Pirelli is really only just now coming to terms with how to build and supply F1-level tires. Absent extensive testing, unpredictable races that are all but expected to be unpredictable would seem to be a great way to learn on the job, so to speak.
Personally I think the tyres have made this the most enjoyable series in a great number of years. You need to account for the tyre performance to make everything work on race day!! Why should the tyres "not" be a major consideration in strategy?? It would seem all teams can get good performance out of them, but getting solid and consistent performance that is the hard part. The fact that at the we have had 7 winners from 8 events across 5 constructors is fantastic, but that's just my opinion.
To my mind, some of the best anecdotal evidence that the tyres are working well as part of the category and form only part of the larger equation for overall performance is that the fastest lap times are being set by various teams including Williams, Force India and Sauber at various stages through out the races and not only the top teams. So teams can get good performance over a narrow window, but getting them to last takes proper engineering and some forethought.
However, as you would expect, the spread of the ultimate fastest laps and the winners is a mix of the usual suspects and the new up and comers who are getting their head around the tyres at a similar speed to the established teams
Australia: FL - Button (McLaren) / W - Button (McLaren)
Malaysia: FL - Raikkonen (Lotus) / W - Alonso (Ferrari)
China: FL - Kobayashi (Sauber) / W - Rosberg (Mercedes)
Bahrain: FL - Vettel (Red Bull) /W - Vettel (Red Bull)
Spain: FL - Grosjean (Lotus) / W - Maldonado (Williams)
Monaco: FL - Perez (Sauber) / W - Webber (Red Bull)
Canada: FL - Vettel (Red Bull) / W - Hamilton (McLaren
Europe: FL - Rosberg (Mercedes) / W - Alonso (Ferrari)
Looking at the performances of Alonso in Malaysia and Valencia as well as Maldonado in Spain, this shows that the tyres maybe require a certain setup, suspension package and driver performance to get the best from them.
The recent years of super consistent tyres from Bridgestone effectively took strategy out of the equation and allowed a huge comparative advantage to those teams that had resources and experience to optimise them. Now its a new playing field and everyone is slowly sorting out the tyres. To my mind, Ferrari or more specifically Alonso and Red Bull seem to
have so far got the best measure of them.
Whether that is chassis setup, driver performance or even engine performance is the $64,000 question.
I had an interesting conversation with someone "in the business" over a pint and some dinner when I was in the UK recently. The conversation worked its way around to the Renault engine in the Lotus and Red Bull. It is known that the Renault is down on power likely has a better torque profile. I asked this person that, given the performance of the Lotus and Red Bulls and the characteristics of the Renault engine, whether that may help Lotus and Red Bull preserve and be easier on the rear tyres giving them a performance advantage. A long shot I thought. Their response was very interesting. They just smiled, nodding their head and said: "You would have thought so, wouldn't you!!"
We basically then worked through a Q&A where it was discussed that in a sport where you are consistently looking for hundredth's of a second per lap not only for one lap, but over a series of laps and with tyre life now such a big factor, an engines ability to deliver slightly better power and torque profiles that are easier on the tyre without sacrificing performance in other areas would definitely be an advantage.
Overall and IMHO, I love what Pirelli has done!!
Never approach a Bull from the front, a Horse from the back, or an Idiot from any direction
