Pirelli confident of avoiding Silverstone-style blowout repeats this season
Pirelli confident of avoiding Silverstone-style blowout repeats this season
Pirelii motorsport boss Mario Isola is confident there will be no repeat this season of the tyre failures that blighted the Italian manufacturer's Formula 1 campaign last year.
The construction of the Pirelli tyres was brought sharply into focus in the British GP at Silverstone where Lewis Hamilton famously won the race on three wheels following a last-lap puncture, while Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas and then McLaren driver Carlos Sainz also suffered blowouts.
Later in the season at Imola, Max Verstappen's Red Bull also sustained what team principal Christian Horner described as a "totally instantaneous" failure due to cuts on the tread and sidewall as a consequence of unbearable loads.
In response to the rise in downforce on tyres that had not been updated for two seasons, new rules have been introduced this year designed to cut the downforce, while Pirelli has improved the construction of its rubber.
Isola believes the issues of last year will be avoided this season. He said: "The reason why we introduced the new construction is mainly to make it more robust and able to cope with the extreme loads that are in Silverstone and other high-severity circuits.
"Then when we are closer to the race we can understand what is the level of downforce and the level of stress on the tyre as per the simulation we have received from the teams.
"But I am confident that the new construction - and I rely on data from our indoor test department - is more resistant. That's why we decided to introduce it.
"Then obviously the pressure will be a function of the loads we have during the race weekend."
In terms of construction, the weight of the tyre has increased by 1.5kgs in total across the front two and almost 1.2kgs for the rear pair, for an overall total of nearly 2.7kgs.
The sidewall on the front tyres has also been widened by "about three or four millimetres", according to Isola, which he recognises is "very small" but concedes "can make a difference on the downforce" which he believes the teams will recover this season.
Despite the aerodynamic changes the teams have been forced to make that have significantly reduced downforce, Isola said he was "surprised by the amount" they had already reclaimed in pre-season testing and there will eventually be no difference in "performance compared to last year".
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton in 's*** happens' outburst after huge China failure
- 6 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Alonso hit with China PENALTY as Hamilton endures Shanghai nightmare
- 19 minutes ago
F1 star PENALISED following controversial Chinese GP incident
- 1 hour ago
F1 Qualifying Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 times - 100th Red Bull pole as Hamilton crashes out in Q1
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton suffers CATASTROPHIC F1 qualifying after early exit
- 1 hour ago
Chinese Grand Prix qualifying red flagged after unusual HIGH SPEED crash
- 2 hours ago
Related news
F1 tyres explained: what are the compounds, rules, and changes for the 2024 season?
Key F1 manufacturer set for UNUSUAL change to cars
Pirelli unveil drastic new tyre plans as they respond to drivers' criticism
F1 tyre hopefuls respond after decision made over bid
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860