F1 tyre supplier Pirelli unveiled its wider specification F1 tyre for the 2017 season in the paddock at Monaco.
Tag: f1 tyres
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Pirelli unveils wider 2017 F1 tyres in Monaco
Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli gave the sport its first glimpse at their wider tyres for next season which will come into play under the revised 2017 F1 regulations. The wider tyre was unveiled in Monte Carlo ahead of the final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The new technical regulations for the 2017 F1 season see a significant increase in aerodynamic downforce which will result in faster lap times. As a result, Pirelli has opted to introduce wider tyres which are very reminiscent of the tyres of yesteryear.
The sport would like to see a reduction in lap times of around four seconds and part of this will be made possible by the wider tyres allowing for better acceleration and cornering speeds.The front tyre, which is currently 245mm wide, will increase to 305mm. The rear tyre will take on quite a bit more rubber, increasing from 325mm to 405mm. The size of the wheel rims will remain unchanged at 13 inches. The significant increase in tyre width will increase the mechanical grip of the cars and most likely even increase overtaking opportunities.
Pirelli will begin testing with the 2017 wider spec tyres in August.
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F1 2015: Belgian Grand Prix Review – Hamilton Wins, Vettel Fumes
There was a bit of commotion even before the Belgian grand prix officially got underway. Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg waved desperately from the cockpit of his car on the starting grid moments before the red lights were extinguished. It turns out that the German had a mechanical issue that would end his race before it even started.
But this was nothing in the face of the drama that would develop towards the end of the race and subsequent fall-out of it all.
By all accounts Ferrari’s Spa weekend was dismal when measured against the high of the Hungarian grand prix. The woes started in Saturday qualifying as Kimi Raikkonen grinded to a halt in the second part of qualifying with an oil pressure problem. The misery didn’t end here though the Finn was further hampered by having to drop five places on the grid for a gearbox change. Raikkonen eventually finished seventh in the race after a difficult time of trying to look after his tyres. Perhaps the Iceman can console himself with his freshly signed 2016 contract.
For Sebastian Vettel, in his 150th grand prix start, it looked to be going slightly better. The German scrapped his way into third by daring to run a one-stop strategy. But a spectacular failure of his right-rear tyre two laps from the end of the grand prix dropped him out of the running. The four time world champion was fuming in the post race interviews during which he lambasted Pirelli and its tyres. The Italian tyre manufacturer released its own statement in which the blame tyre wear as the reason for the failure.This conclusion would be acceptable if it were true. If we are to accept Pirelli’s version of events, and the tyre was worn down to the point where it could explode, his laptimes would’ve been significantly impacted before the tyre exploded. The truth is that while Vettel was lapping slower than the charging Romain Grosjean he was only seven tenths of a second off the Frenchman’s pace.
Further, Ferrari was informed that the medium compound tyre would be able to endure forty laps around the Spa circuit. Vettel’s tyre blew up after only twenty-seven laps on the car. What we have learnt is that Pirelli is awfully good at shifting blame away from themselves.Two years ago, at the British grand prix, they blamed a slew of tyre blowouts on aggressive tyre pressures by teams and sharp kerb edges. After Saturday practice they attributed Nico Rosberg’s spectacular blowout in Blanchemont to an “external cut” as the reason for the tyre failure. Yet, Rosberg denied going off track or running over debris and confirmed that they “didn’t understand” the failure within the team despite Pirelli’s conclusion.
Tyres seemed to be at the forefront in Spa as the Williams pit crew fitted three medium and one soft compound tyre to Valtteri Bottas’ car. It was insult to a lack of pace for Williams who didn’t perform at all well around the famous circuit. Rob Smedley confirmed the team’s disappointment at finishing sixth and ninth with Massa and Bottas respectively.
Romain Grosjean was a surprise but welcome third place finisher in his black and gold Lotus. The Frenchman maintained impressive pace throughout the weekend and topped it off with a third place finish in which was arguably the best drive of the day. Grosjean admitted to “crying on the last lap” such was elation at the result. Respect to the smiling Frenchman who’s kept his head up through some incredibly difficult times with this team.And amidst the drama and tyre sagas was a serene and very smiley Lewis Hamilton with a second Spa victory in his pocket. Never apparently under pressure the Brit led and controlled all 43 Belgian grand prix laps with consummate ease. Teammate Rosberg finished in an ever-present second place but is now twenty-eight points adrift of Hamilton. At this stage it doesn’t seem as if the multi-lingual Rosberg has any sort of answer to his teammate’s pace. It’s looking all the more as if Hamilton is transforming himself from the reigning champion to the champion-elect.
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Pirelli: External cut caused Rosberg tyre issue
Pirelli has issued a press release saying that an external cut into the tyre structure is most likely the cause for the tyre failure which sent Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg into a high speed spin during the second practice session ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Rosberg’s tyre failed on the approach to Blanchimont and he spun aross the track before coming to a stop in the run-off.
Pirelli has stated that thorough overnight investigations into the cause of the tyre failure, Pirelli is confident that the failure was not caused by any structural integrity issues.
“We have conducted a thorough investigation to find out exactly what happened with Nico’s tyre,” said Pirelli’s Paul Hembery.
“This investigation now excludes any structural integrity issues. Based on the information and data available an external source of damage is the conclusion made.”
Quality data checks on other tyres has also shown no anomalies.
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Michelin tenders for F1 2017 return, says it’ll get F1 drivers pushing to the max again
Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli has been the official and sole Formula One tyre supplier since 2011 but this may change following the FIA’s tender process for the 3-year contract beyond the 2016 F1 season.
Michelin has made an announcement via Twitter stating that they have lodged an official tender and confirmed their intentions to get Formula One drivers pushing to the max once again: “We have submitted our F1 proposal to (the) FIA. 18-inch (tyres) of course and ‘drive to the max’ tyre for the driver pleasure.”
Michelin has questioned the current status of tyres in F1 and is is adamant that it can move the sport in a better direction for teams, drivers and fans.
The French tyre manufacturer’s motorsport boss Pascal Couasnon believes that its product plan and a switch to 18-inch wheels would transform how drivers could attack in races. “Whether we’ll be selected or not, we’ll see,” he said.
“But I’d say we want to be coherent with our proposals and offer the opportunity to the teams and the drivers to have a tyre that enables everyone to express themselves and drive to the max.
“It will bring the pleasure back to racing. This hopefully should bring a show. We’ve seen this weekend in Le Mans that we can get a super show and performance.”
Couasnon also said that the plans by Michelin would put tyres back at the forefront of the technological battle and this is something that would be welcomed by the F1 paddock and fans of the sport.
“It would be wiser to talk about F1 through a technical challenge rather than hearing drivers saying ‘I can’t attack or go faster because of the tyre’,” he said. “So everybody could find satisfaction to see a candidate who wants the sport to be talked about in a positive way, rather than in a negative way.”
Michelin has also made it clear that while it is open to – and maybe even prefers – a tyre war – it could still benefit from being the sole F1 tyre supplier.“We have always been open to rivalry,” Couasnon said. “Where it has a bit moved is in the question of whether there is no competition, do we still take part in any case?
“Our position is that what’s important is to have a technical challenge to make us progress. Will we be able to learn some things for tomorrow’s tyres?
“One of the solutions is indeed to have a rival facing you: in that case, you have an immediate challenge and motivation. But there are also the rules.
“When you are not allowed to change tyres and refuel at the same time at Le Mans, the teams need tyres that can handle several stints. So even without rivals, you’re being challenged in a technical way by your clients. That’s what we want to do in F1.
“If there are several tyre suppliers, perfect. If there is only one, then a switch to the 18-inch and a show made with tyres that you don’t change every 10 laps is already a pretty nice technical challenge that will be useful for all of us.”Italian company Pirelli has been the sport’s official sole supplier since 2011, but now the FIA has launched a new tender process for the three-year contract beyond 2016.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone however has seemingly put his support behind Formula One’s current F1 tyre supplier, Pirelli. He’s of the opinion that Michelin would produce a “rock-hard tyre” that would not be good for the show. He’s also voiced his disdain for the Michelin-preferred 18-inch wheel diameter saying that it “looks horrible” on single seaters.
The FIA will now assess all tender applications from a technical and safety perspective, before commercial negotiations with Ecclestone begin.
Pirelli’s Paul Hembery confirmed: “There is a phase when the FIA will evaluate the technical competences of people who want to supply and then there’s the important bit which is the commercial aspect with the promoter”.
“So there’s a timetable set out and we will know before the end of the year.”
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Vettel wants F1 to be scary again
As far as Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is concerned, Formula 1 is doing the right thing by working on bringing back more extreme cars that force drivers to be the bravest of the brave and focus on pure racing talent.
Formal talks with technical chiefs about framing the proposed rule changes to make F1 cars up to six seconds faster per lap, are set to start in Monaco this weekend and Vettel has urged the decision makers to deliver cars that are more challenging to drive.
“I am very old school,” Vettel said. “I would like to have a much bigger engine, turbo or not, better tyres, more grip, so the cars are faster in general.
“The first time I drove an F1 car to be honest I was scared and now I don’t think you get that impression any more. The step from GP2 to F1 is not very big.
“It is still difficult to drive fast, but probably back in the years you needed a little bit bigger balls, which is what the drivers would appreciate and also the fans.”
Vettel is of the opinion that F1 has put way too much emphasis on car and engine performance – and not enough on the talent of the pilots of these machines.
“Driving should always be the core, and I think it has been discussed a lot in the past period of F1 with the cars getting slower,” Vettel said. “In the end you are looking for the fastest driver. In the end you should not change the core of the sport which is that the fastest driver should win. I think maybe to more and more of an extreme we have gone away from that a bit.”
In his role as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), Vettel has helped launch a Global Fan Survey. The survey has been so popular that it crashed their servers three times in the first day of being launched.Vettel believes that feedback from fans will show that they too want things to change and give F1 bosses a clear idea of the changes that need to be made to make the sport more popular.
“I think it has been largely confusing the last one-and-a-half years about what people want or don’t want, because many times you only read or hear what individuals are saying.
“Unfortunately in F1, it is mostly what individuals want to see because it might benefit them. The [Fan] Survey is completely independent and it is really a chance for the fans to have a vote, so we can finally find out what people actually want.
“We hope to learn and understand what the people actually want. Obviously there is a chance now to click and vote on what you would like to see and that gives everyone a much better understanding of what is the truth.
“There has been a lot of talk going back and forth so I think it is good to finally find out.”
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Pirelli focused on safety after proposed tyre rule change
Official Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli says that it remains focused on safety following the FIA Strategy Groups’s announcement about proposed 2016 ‘free choice’ tyre rules.
The FIA revealed on Friday that the Strategy Group – which is made up of six F1 teams, FIA President Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone – were proposing a series of changes aimed at spicing up the F1 show. The changes include the return of refuelling in 2017, higher noise levels and aerodynamic rule changes, amongst others.
Also included is a proposed change that will allow F1 teams free choice to select any two of the four dry weather compound Pirelli tyres – the Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft – ahead of each race on the F1 calendar.
Under the current regulations, Pirelli is responsible for selecting two tyre compounds per race, based on relevant data and analysis by the tyre supplier.
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery was very critical of the proposal saying that it came as a surprise and was concerned about teams being reckless in their decision-making.
“If you start opening up choices this is what will happen: firstly, the top teams will centralise around the same choices because they use the same ideas and data we would be using,” Hembery said following the announcement.
“Then there would be some people that would want to risk a little more, and then there would be some people who would want to be a little reckless.
“That means they would be taking a product into a situation that would create a safety problem, and if there is a safety problem then we cannot accept that risk, so it is impossible.
“That is even before we get into the logistical problems and extreme cost it would involve to do such a thing.
“It’s more important to look at ‘why would you want to do something like that’ and ‘what are you trying to solve’ rather than suggesting a change without analysing what you are trying to achieve.”
Hembery did however state that Pirelli will remain focused on safety and developing a safe solution. “As ever, Pirelli will work with the teams and the FIA to find solutions to problems that are safe, and deliver the required results,” he said.
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Pirelli signs new 3 yr F1 tyre supplying contract
Pirelli will remain the official Formula One tyre supplier until 2016 after signing a new 3 year contract with the FIA.
Pirelli’s future in the sport had been in doubt following a number of incidents during the 2013 season and the expiry of their contract at the end of 2013.
However, Pirelli have managed to secure their future in the sport along with some of the rule changes around testing which they had requested.
These changes which are mandatory from 2014 onward, were outlined in a statement released by the FIA. The statement reads as follows:
“Following a decision by the World Motor Sport Council confirming Pirelli’s status as the single supplier of tyres to the FIA Formula One World Championship, Pirelli and the FIA have renewed their Formula One tyre supply contract. The duration of the agreement is for three years, starting from the 2014 season.
The world motorsport’s governing body and Pirelli, in collaboration with the teams, have been working together to improve levels of safety and performance in Formula One, resulting in important changes to the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations regarding the testing of tyres, which will enable the Italian company to continue its Formula One single supply arrangements in the best interests of the sport.
These new rules, mandatory from the 2014 season onwards, can be summarised as follows:
1) One of the 12 days of official pre-season testing, as prescribed in the 2014 sporting regulations, will be dedicated exclusively to wet tyre testing.
2) Each team will dedicate one of their eight days of in-season testing, as prescribed in the 2014 sporting regulations, exclusively to tyre testing. This means that during each of the eight days of in-season testing, at least one team – and up to a maximum of two – will be concentrating on tyre testing along with Pirelli’s engineers.
Pirelli will continue to determine the specification of the tyres and to manage all aspects of their development, in close consultation with the FIA and the teams, and within the parameters set out in the FIA Formula One Sporting & Technical Regulations.
In addition, Pirelli and the FIA have agreed to discuss a possible partnership on the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign.”
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F1 Tyres for the Abu Dhabi GP – Preview Quotes – Pirelli
Here’s what Pirelli’s Paul Hembery has to say about the F1 tyres for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Pirelli
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director“The way that the track temperature falls in Abu Dhabi obviously has an effect on both tyre wear and degradation, meaning that teams are able to do longer runs even on the softer compound tyres later in the race. There are some important implications for strategy here, which means that it’s often possible to try something different in Abu Dhabi than you would in other places, which might well pay off at the end of the race. As a company, Abu Dhabi is a circuit that we know very well because it’s where we did some F1 tyre testing before we started in Formula One. It’s also where the Formula One teams got to sample our tyres for the first time, back at the end of 2010. When it comes to the actual venue, Yas Marina is one of the most modern and spectacular circuits of the year with a number of different technical challenges that test most aspects of a tyre’s overall performance. Tyre wear and degradation isn’t especially high here: last year, when we also nominated the medium and soft tyres, most drivers just stopped once. As the compounds are generally softer this year we’d expect two stops this time, although it’s quite possible that some teams might try just one. We will have to wait for the Friday running until we have a clearer picture of the time difference between the two compounds but overall we’d anticipate race pace among the frontrunners to be reasonably closely balanced, and it’s always under these circumstances that having the right strategy can really make a significant difference. Although there’s quite a high degree of track evolution, and conditions in free practice aren’t always representative of the race, the work done during the Friday and Saturday sessions will be instrumental in shaping each team’s understanding of which strategies are both possible and advantageous on Sunday.”
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Indian GP – Pirelli – F1 Tyres Preview Quotes
Pirelli
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director
“We’ve decided to go for the P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft f1 tyres in India this year, which we think will be the best combination for the Buddh circuit and lead to closer racing. For the last two years running we’ve actually gone for the hard and soft compound f1 tyres, which might have been slightly on the conservative side, so this year we’ve gone for a softer and slightly more aggressive choice. As a result, just like the last race in Japan, we’re not expecting to see a particularly big variation in lap times between the two compounds. Consequently, the strategy made a very big difference in Japan and this should be the same in India. We only had one pit stop per car in India last year, but this year we would expect two – which also provides the drivers and teams with more opportunities to make up places. With varying elevations and a wide variety of corners India provides the f1 tyres with quite a test, as there are forces coming from all directions, so tyre management will once again prove to be important. As usual, it should be very warm in India, which increases thermal degradation as well. This looks set to be a decisive race for the championship so we hope that our tyre choice will help to make it a memorable contest with high-quality racing.”
