F1 teams to test new Pirelli rear tyres due to integrity concerns

F1 tyre provider Pirelli will introduce a new specification of rear tyre for testing during practice for next week's Austrian Grand Prix in light of the recent tyre failures in Azerbaijan.

Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll both suffered high-speed crashes due to failures on the rear-left tyres during the race at Baku.

That resulted in a technical directive issued during last weekend's French Grand Prix increasing the tyre pressures.

In a quest to ensure improved robustness of the product it provides, however, the new specification will be tested during Austrian GP practice on July 2 to "evaluate its effectiveness".

A Pirelli statement continued: "This decision has been taken in addition to the recently issued technical directive and the latest starting parameters prescribed by Pirelli, in light of the fact that it is not currently possible to monitor running conditions in real-time.

"This will remain the case until next year when standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors will be introduced across all teams."

Each driver will be prescribed two sets of the new specification tyre to be used across either first or second practice.

If successful, the new tyres will be introduced into competition for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

"The new rear construction incorporates some elements that have been developed for use in the latest 18-inch Formula 1 tyres from 2022," Pirelli added.

"With this new structure Pirelli provides a tyre that can guarantee even greater levels of integrity under the extreme conditions that can be generated by the current cars."

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