• Tyre news

Pirelli boss happy with ongoing progress

ESPNF1 Staff
February 13, 2011 « Senna keen to stress he was not on trial | »
McLaren staff collect tyre marbles off the track at the conclusion of testing in Jerez © Sutton Images
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Pirelli boss Paul Hembery said he is happy with continuing tests on the new tyres ahead of the season opener in Bahrain in four weeks.

Reacting to comments the tyres wear quicker than the old Bridgestones, Hembery said teams would need to amend their strategies, although he dismissed some speculation there could be as many as four tyre changes per car.

"From the data we've seen, I'd question why anyone would be doing four," he told Autosport. "There might be three, but there is differences between teams. I still envisage two, and in the worst case maybe someone will have to do three, but four doesn't match the data that we've seen, that would be very strange.

"We're trying to find the fine balance between longevity and forcing teams to make tyre changes. If you make a tyre that lasts too long, the teams will do one tyre change, which is what they have done in the past."

He explained that drivers who look after the tyres when they are new tend to get more out of them in the long term. "It can have quite a significant impact on the longevity of the product."

But he admitted there was still work to do. "We've always said that we are humble enough to know we can't possibly know everything after six months of testing on our own. But if there is a case, we will decide with the FIA. It will be with the FIA, not the teams, because you risk giving favouritism."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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