Pirelli not to blame for boring races - Michael Masi

Formula 1

Pirelli not to blame for boring races - Masi

Masi doesn't envy Pirelli in trying to fulfill everyone's wishes

Sam Hall

Wednesday 2 September 2020 11:59 Updated: 12:06

Formula 1 race director Michael Masi insists Pirelli is not to blame for boring races and points out an increased number of pit stops provides no guarantee of better racing.

In a standard dry weather grand prix, drivers will spend the duration of the races nursing their tyres to make them go as far a possible into the race.

If the tyres are too soft, complaints are made by drivers that they were unable to push and drive on the edge. Should Pirelli bring tyres too hard, the complaints are that heat could not be put into the tyres and it was too difficult to push.

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Masi said: “[Head of F1 and Car Racing at Pirelli Motorsport] Mario Isola attends the drivers meetings every four-five events each year to give an update to the drivers and the teams to where Pirelli is at and what they are looking to do.

“So I think the evolution of that is that we will have and will continue working together between all of the key stakeholders with F1, the FIA, Pirelli, the drivers and the teams to have a tyre that is fit for purpose as they have supplied.

“When we have to look back, Pirelli has done an amazing job trying to tick everybody’s boxes the best they can. I don’t envy what they’re trying to do in fulfilling everyone’s wishes.

“I think that Pirelli, as they have and as they continue to, will always strive to make everyone as happy as they can.”

While drivers could push the softer compounds of Pirelli rubber harder and run a two-stop strategy, the time lost through pitting is so vast that it would make no sense for a go down that route.

Masi's comments come as Red Bull boss Christian Horner has called for a strategy shake-up, claiming "one-stop races are always boring," a statement the race director does not agree with.

He explained: “I think it’s probably a bit harsh connecting one stop strategy races and boring races, because I think we’ve seen some exciting one-stop races, we’ve also seen some boring two-stop races and some exciting two-stop races."

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