• Tyre news

Pirelli aims to improve F1 spectacle

ESPNF1 Staff
November 23, 2010 « No pay, no drive laments de la Rosa | »
A close-up of a Pirelli tyre during testing in Abu Dhabi © Sutton Images
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Pirelli has confirmed it will try to contribute to the F1 'show' next year but warned it must also be seen as a competent tyre maker.

In Canada this year, the products supplied by Bridgestone fell apart, resulting in a highly entertaining race but did not reflect well on the official supplier. The event sparked suggestions the arrival of a new tyre partner in 2011 is an opportunity to manufacture more Canada-like thrillers.

Teams and drivers got their first taste of Pirelli's proposed tyres for 2011 last week in Abu Dhabi, and noted that while the harder compound wore quickly, the soft was oddly much more durable.

Pirelli's motorsport boss Paul Hembery confirmed that Pirelli has responded to the desire that tyre strategy influences the entertainment-value of grands prix. "We have been asked to produce tyres to improve the show," he said. "But if we are very criticised by the teams or the drivers, yes, we will be able to bring to the next race very durable tyres."

Overall, he insisted that the teams were generally "very enthusiastic" after their first encounter with Pirelli, and played down estimates that the tyres are about two seconds slower than this year's Bridgestones, saying: "It is pointless to make those sorts of comparisons at this stage."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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