Pirelli doesn't understand complaints over 2019 tyres

  • Published on 20 May 2019 19:14
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Pirelli has dismissed claims that its tyres are harder to work with in 2019 following allegations from some Formula 1 teams.

Haas in particular have been having issues with the Pirelli tyres this year, which they claim has hampered its race pace during the opening races of the season.

Thinner-gauge thread causing problems

Team principal of the American team Guenther Steiner thinks the thinner-gauge tread introduced this year has increased the challenge of retraining heat.

"We spend millions and millions to develop these cars and then they are out of the [tyre] window and really cannot get going," he said.

"I'm not blaming it purely on Pirelli. I'm blaming it on us as well because some [teams] get [the tyres] to work.

"But in general, this is not the right thing. We shouldn't be talking after the race saying, 'Did your tyre work or not?'"

Pirelli denies a narrower working range

Pirelli's head of motorsport Mario Isola says that after studying the information compared to last year's tyres, he is puzzled as to how teams are suggesting there is a narrower window.

"If we talk about the width of the working window, and I heard some comments that this year it is narrower, it is difficult to confirm that," said Isola.

"What we call the C3 and C4 are two compounds that are the same soft and ultra soft that we had last year. Obviously the working range is a function of the compound, so with the same compound we have the same working range.

"I don't want to say it is wider, but what I will say is that they can use it at a higher temperature because of a reduction of thickness [of the tread], but we cannot say that it is narrower.

"The C1 and C2 are two compounds that are softer than last year so are more suitable, and the C5 in terms of hardness is the same as a hyper soft, so in terms of mechanical resistance it is better.

 "We had a back-to-back comparison in Baku with some teams using the hyper versus the C5, and it is clear that the hyper had graining and the C5 had much reduced graining, so I don't understand where we can say that it is a narrower window."

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Well, a lot of teams have complaied about a narrower working window, so there could be some truth to it, but considering the tyres seem to work for the others, I think that's more due to some simply not being able to nail the window and just get a bit salty over that. But from a purely cosmetical PoV, I'm not sure if I'm fond of that glossy surface (maybe it's Maybelline?).

    • + 0
    • May 20 2019 - 20:18
    • f1dave

      Posts: 782

      Nice contrast with Ferrari"s flat paint though.

      • + 0
      • May 21 2019 - 00:42

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

  • Team name Pirelli
  • Base Milan, Italy
Show full profile
show sidebar