Wednesday 3rd July 2013

Pirelli's Silverstone fightback

"You're doing it wrong" Pirelli tells F1 teams following blowouts

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You've got to feel slightly for Pirelli. 'Make F1 exciting!' was the design brief and, rightly or wrongly, the 2013 tyres have achieved just that. Perhaps taking things a bit far with the blowouts at Silverstone on Sunday.

Pirelli lays blame with pit crews and drivers

There have been lots of angry and indignant words since then, the latest IN CAPITALS from Pirelli, which says the teams were at fault for putting the tyres on the wrong way round and running the pressures too low. And the drivers likewise for literally cutting corners. Basically an instruction to 'RTFM' to the teams, which you can read in full right here.

Following what it describes as "exhaustive analysis of the tyres used at Silverstone" Pirelli blames wrongly mounted tyres for contributing to the blowouts, which wiped out Lewis Hamilton's chances of a home win and saw several safety car periods.

"The tyres supplied this year have an asymmetric structure, which means that they are not designed to be interchangeable," says the Pirelli statement. "The sidewalls are designed in such a way to deal with specific loads on the internal and external sides of the tyre. So swapping the tyres round has an effect on how they work in certain conditions. In particular, the external part is designed to cope with the very high loads that are generated while cornering at a circuit as demanding as Silverstone, with its rapid left-hand bends and some kerbs that are particularly aggressive."

No home win for Hamilton after blowout

Teams using incorrect tyre pressures and overly aggressive camber settings are also listed as contributory factors, Pirelli insisting that when used correctly its tyres are totally safe.

Perhaps regretful of the combative tone of the original statement a follow up was issued not long after, Pirelli's Paul Hembery taking a rather more 'hey guys' conciliatory tone. Following more capitals. "WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TEAMS, DRIVERS, FIA AND FOM FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE RECEIVING," it opens, Hembery then quoted as saying, "Contrary to the impression that some people have formed, I would like to underline the collaboration and support that we are receiving from the teams, drivers, FIA and FOM. In no way are we intending to create arguments or attack anybody. We have taken our responsibilities upon ourselves as our press release indicates. But not having full control over all the elements that impact on the use of the tyres, we need everybody's contribution. With regard to this, we are receiving the full support of all the parties involved, for which we are very grateful."

Read into that what you will but, suffice to say, tyres will continue to be at the heart of the debate about F1 in 2013.

Photos: LAT Photographic (Steve Tee, Charles Coates, Jed Leicester and Jakob Ebrey)

 

 

[Woody]

Seems like a combination of factors contributed then.

Can't beleive that the tyres don't have 'outside' on the tyre wall - my road tyres do......

Just a thought though - don't Pirelli fit the tyres to the rims for the teams?

Edited by Woody on Wednesday 3rd July 09:41

[Woody]

AndrewEH1 said:

mycool said:

He finished 4th though?

And what other reasons....do tell

He can't.

Sadly he's already been detained by the Gestapo.

He'd got the bass turned up too high on the stereo and the balance set wrong - bass vibrations caused his blow out........


I'll get my coat......