Red Bull question FIA and Pirelli policing of new tyre guidelines

French Grand Prix

Red Bull question FIA and Pirelli policing of new tyre guidelines

Pressures have increased by 2psi for French GP

Ian Parkes

Friday 18 June 2021 14:47

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has questioned how the FIA and Pirelli can police its latest tyre guidelines from this weekend's French Grand Prix.

In the wake of the tyre failures involving Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll in his Aston Martin during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, an 18-page technical directive has been issued by the FIA - with Pirelli's guidance - detailing the way forward.

The problem for Pirelli, as conceded by boss Mario Isola, is that there is no standard sensor in F1 that allows it to monitor the parameters it has prescribed whilst a race is in progress, instead relying on data from the teams.

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Isola has claimed both Red Bull and Aston Martin ran its tyres during the race in Baku beyond its guidelines, albeit making clear they broke no rules.

In response, Pirelli has raised the pressures on the tyres for the race at Paul Ricard by two psi. Horner, however, has suggested such guidelines and the TD may not be enough.

"Firstly, we were just pleased no driver was injured [in Baku] because obviously accidents on that straight, with the walls in close proximity, is never good to see," Horner told Sky Sports F1.

"We've worked fully with Pirelli and the FIA for them to try and understand what's gone on because we have worked within the guidelines, the prescriptions Pirelli come up with.

"Then you have to ask yourself 'Well, why did it happen?' The result is that pressures have been increased.

"Is two psi enough to prevent something like that happening again? I don't know. We obviously need to rely on Pirelli and their technical expertise.

"Hopefully we won't see incidents as we've seen in Azerbaijan."

Horner confirmed the teams have had no input into the technical directive, that it was handled by the FIA and Pirelli, jokingly declaring the eventual 18-pages as "a bit of an admin issue".

Horner added: "I think for me the biggest thing is, what happens when the safety car comes out, or you've wet-dry conditions? There are so many variables within it.

"It's just a very difficult one, and for them to try to police without standard sensors across all the cars at the same time, it does seem very, very complicated."

Standard sensors will be used from next season when Pirelli's 18-inch tyres are introduced.