Reading: New F1 tyres supplier admits 2011 will be a learning year

By Alex Kapadia

Pirelli wants to contribute to the excitement of the Formula One “show” as the new tyres supplier, but admits it needs to be “more conservative” at some circuits.

The Italian tyres manufacturer warns F1 fans that it will be a learning year after it takes over from Bridgestone.

So far this year, the outgoing tyre supplier has spiced up the track action at several meetings with its tyre allocations.

And Pirelli has vowed to attempt to contribute to the “show” in the design and supply of its products.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s racing chief, said: “We will seek to do this, alongside the needs of the teams.

“To produce durable and high performance tyres is not a problem,” he added. “The challenge is to find the right compromise between lifespan and durability, with regards to the show.”

Pirelli has already begun its on-track 2011 tyre development programme, with a schedule through to November including Mugello, Paul Ricard, Jerez, Monza and Abu Dhabi.

However, Hembery said: “It could be that because we cannot test at all the (Grand Prix) circuits that we need to be more conservative at some places, so that the tyres can survive but the show doesn’t benefit as everyone would want.

“It must be understood that 2011 is our first year,” he added.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 2:50 pm and is filed under Bridgestone, News, Pirelli. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.