Pirelli admit to Istanbul tyre selection error

Turkish Grand Prix

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Pirelli admit to Istanbul tyre selection error

Slippery track led to woefully slow times

Sam Hall

Friday 13 November 2020 15:04 Updated: 15:25

Pirelli Formula 1 boss Mario Isola conceded bringing the hardest tyre compounds in its range to Turkey may have been a mistake after drivers struggled throughout Friday practice.

The recently-laid surface at Istanbul Park, in conjunction with the track being washed prior to FP1 and low temperatures, meant grip was almost non-existent.

The complaints that followed over the team radio from the drivers were numerous, with the tricky conditions underlined by the fact Max Verstappen's leading time from FP2 over three seconds slower than the pole lap from F1's last visit to the track in 2011.

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Asked directly if its range of rubber for this weekend was a mistake, Isola said: "Maybe yes, but we have data that is very, very old from years ago. We had a completely different situation, different tyres, different compounds and different cars.

"So we are looking at this I think as a new track. We made our simulation considering this circuit as a new track and yes, obviously, we had a look at the data from 2011 but I believe that is not very relevant, so maybe yes."

Ahead of the weekend, questions had been asked of the teams as to how much the suspensions on the cars would need strengthening to cope with the quadruple-apex turn eight, a signature corner in F1.

Isola has conceded that Pirelli's own concerns may have additionally skewed its judgement in making the call on the range of compounds.

"We know that turn eight is quite severe on the tyre," added Isola.

"The rest of the circuit is not so heavy, not so severe on the tyres, but knowing the characteristics of the Tarmac in advance, yes, maybe it was good to go one step softer."

Before you go...

Verstappen quickest but F1 slower on return to ice-like Turkey track than last visit in 2011