Share

F1 tyres back under the spotlight

London - Pirelli has hit back at claims it is to blame for the dearth of wet-weather racing in Formula 1.

Whilst safety standards in the sport have steadily improved, the other trend of the last decade is that F1 race director Charlie Whiting is increasingly prone to halting track action in the event of rain.

F1 veteran Felipe Massa said that is because of Pirelli's rain tyres.

Too much aquaplaning

Massa, quoted by quoted by Brazil's UOL, said: "The problem we have is the aquaplaning on these tyres."

But Pirelli chief Mario Isola hit back at that sort of claim, insisting; "The rain tyres are designed to run on a wet track.

"We have already shown in situations like practice in the US GP, with heavy rain, the tyres work in this type of condition. What we have seen is many races stopped because of visibility."

READ: Hamilton wants softer tyres, more fun

The other theory is that Whiting and the FIA are simply increasingly reluctant to let drivers take too many risks in wet weather.

Sauber driver Felipe Nasr said: "I think we are considering a safety margin that is greater than normal.

"The best example is the British grand prix, where we, the drivers, felt that we could have gone at least two laps earlier. It's the FIA who decides, but we already expressed our opinion to them about that."

Finding solutions

One proposed solution by the FIA is that, in the event of a safety car start, the cars will in future be returned to the grid when the track is safe for a normal standing start.

On this point Whiting admitted: "Everyone seems to agree with that."

READ: Kubica to test 2017 Pirelli F1 tyres

Interestingly, Whiting also seemed to side with Massa over the issue of Pirelli's wet tyres.

"We know that the drivers don't like driving on the wet weather tyres," Whiting said. "They don't have such a tread depth and then they start aquaplaning - these are all the things we have to take into account.

"We know that driving in the wet is not easy, but it never has been and there is no suggestion that we're doing it for any other reason than to try and make sure that the drivers don't aquaplane."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()