Max Verstappen slates Pirelli tyres that "fall apart"

Verstappen in Jeddah — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

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Verstappen slates Pirelli tyres that "fall apart"

The reigning champion complained about the durability of the rubber

Topher Smith

Thursday 31 March 2022 09:15 Updated: 12:10

Max Verstappen has slated the Pirelli F1 tyres after claiming that he and Charles Leclerc "could have actually raced more" without the tyres 'dying'.

Verstappen and the Leclerc engaged in their second battle for the lead in as many events, going toe-to-toe in Jeddah having gone up against each other at the season opener in Bahrain.

Red Bull's Verstappen acknowledged that the cars are easier to follow due to the new aerodynamic regulations but conceded the tyres remain the limiting factor.

"I think the cars are better to follow, it just depends on the tyre," said Verstappen.

"Like the hard tyre was capable of following closer, the other compounds, and this depends on the track, but they just fall apart.

"As soon as you follow for a few laps, they just open up. And I think it's also a little bit of a thing… probably tyres, but also the weight of the car pushes you over the tyre edge.

"This is something we need to look at for the future because we improved the following with the cars, and I think probably the racing but if the tyres don't let you, due to whatever reason, if it's the weight of the actual car, that’s a bit of a shame because in the first stint I think we could have actually raced a bit more if the tyre didn't die.

"Everyone was basically struggling with the same thing at one point so yeah, we need to understand that a bit better."