Pirelli denies punctures are similar to Silverstone issues
Two tyre punctures at the second free practice session at Spa-Francorchamps have triggered another tyre saga as teams and fans fear a repeat of the issues seen at Silverstone.
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery however stepped in during a media call to deny any such suggestions, although he acknoledges that the punctures are worrying.
"It's a worry for the sport because we've got to go and find what it is," he said. "There is not a lot we can do. We will try our very best to identify it and give indications of what could be causing it."
Hembery clearly stated that the punctures are "completely different" to the issues experienced at the British Grand Prix. It was those issues that triggered the return of the 2012 tyre construction, combined with the 2013 compounds.
"It looks on the Red Bull like something has been rubbing on the surface and then cut through the surface," Hembery said. "It looks like something's got caught up between the floor and the tyre. On the Ferrari there are two quite clear holes through the top of the tread so we have got to go and look at the track later to see what's between turns 13 and 15.
"It could be anything. In the case of Alonso you have two holes through the top. What on earth could cause that? You've got to go and find it and that's what we've got to do."
Even though Pirelli did not experience similar issues at previous years, it seems that tyres from other cars showed similar surface cuts, even though they did not lead to the deflation of the tyres in those cases.
