'Teams fed Pirelli incorrect downforce data'

Pirelli has revealed that they believe teams have been exaggerating downforce levels in a bid to keep the tyre pressures as high as possible. In Barcelona, the Italian marque's popular decision in 2017 to allow teams to use lower minimum tyre pressures came to a halt in Friday practice.

Auto Motor und Sport reported that Mercedes, who have dominated Formula 1 in the last number of years running on high tyre pressures, has been struggling to stay competitive with the 2017 tyres, especially the fact that they are running at lower pressures.

Then, ahead of the Spanish Gand Prix, Pirelli increased the mandatory pressure guidelines after analysing downforce data provided by the various teams.

"The suspicion in the paddock is that Pirelli is deliberately being fed excessively high downforce data in order to keep tyre pressures high. It is said to be always the same two teams who deliver the wrong data," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Pirelli's Mario Isola said: "It is true that some of the downforce values prove in reality to have been exaggerated. But such a policy would have little effect because we can always change the pressures if we feel it is safe to do so."