• Turkish Grand Prix

Wet tyre supply not a concern - Pirelli

Pirellis wet tyres were used for the first time this season at Istanbul Park © Getty Images

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Pirelli insists there is no danger teams will run short of wet tyres at the Turkish Grand Prix this weekend, despite some drivers restricting their running during the rain-soaked first practice to save sets.

McLaren's drivers completed just three laps in the morning session with Martin Whitmarsh saying: "We felt it was more prudent to save the rubber for Saturday and Sunday". Rain is by no means certain over the next two days, but Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembrey said the three sets of full-wets and four sets of intermediates given to the teams for all three days of the grand prix would easily suffice whatever the weather.

"The weather for the rest of the weekend looks like it is going to be brighter, but even if it continued to rain, our wet tyres are designed to last for 30 laps or longer while the intermediates can run for about 20, so there are no concerns about supply," he said.

Hembrey did later admit to Auto Motor und Sport that teams may have to be cautious with the supply if every session was run on full wets, but that a simple rule change could solve that issue.

"If there are three days of rain it would be tight," Hembery said. "The teams would be for it (a rule change) and surely the FIA as well. F1 would look pretty ridiculous if drivers have to retire from the race because they have no tyres left."

Pirelli used the dry afternoon session to test its 'super hard' development compound, which it is hoping to run at the Spanish Grand Prix instead of the current hard compound.

"The teams also had the chance to try out the latest evolution of our hard tyre, which we are assessing with a view to Barcelona. It's not quite as fast as our original hard tyre, but it does last a little longer with extra stability, so we will be very interested to hear the feedback from the teams."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.