Formula One’s sole tyre provider Pirelli has introduced that it’ll introduce a new specification slick tyre from the British Grand Prix onwards after evaluating the efficiency positive aspects and growth fee of the present F1 vehicles. F1Technical’s Balázs Szabó stories on the important thing in-season technical change.
Pirelli launched new 18-inch tyres for the 2022 season that additionally noticed the introduction of brand-new ground-effect vehicles. Although drivers have been delighted with the new technology of F1 tyres final yr, vehicles tended to produce understeer which Pirelli meant to appropriate for the continued season by implementing few adjustments to the entrance tyres.
However, following the opening races in 2023, the Milan-based tyre provider was shocked on the improve in efficiency of the present vehicles after only one full season of growth and now intends to react to the elevated pace and downforce of the 2023 vehicles.
The motive – Pirelli is just not solely shocked by the present downforce ranges the new technology F1 vehicles produce within the second yr of the new technical period, however it’s also anticipating higher pace and downforce afterward as growth continues throughout the season.
The Milan-based tyre producer endured a tough British Grand Prix again in 2020 when Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz all suffered sudden tyre failures within the last 4 laps of the Silverstone race.
Back then, Pirelli concluded an intensive investigation that highlighted a number of causes for the tyre blowouts. Among the causes was the elevated tempo of the 2020 F1 vehicles in contrast to the earlier yr which led to extraordinarily difficult working circumstances for the tyres. Pirelli reacted to the difficulty by updating tyre utilization steerage for groups and growing the minimal tyre pressures to scale back the pressure on the constructions.
How is it potential? – In regular circumstances, an in-season rule change requires a super-majority of eight groups to vote in favour. However, the FIA can pressure via adjustments on security grounds which doesn’t require the settlement of the competing groups.
Following the primary races, Pirelli felt that quick adjustments have been essential and subsequently has requested the FIA’s authorisation to introduce a new specification of slick tyre from the British Grand Prix at Silverstone onwards. The request underneath article 10.8.3 of the Formula 1 technical laws has been accepted.
First trial – Teams can have the chance to take a look at the new specification slick tyres on the Spanish Grand Prix that takes place one month prior to the race at Silverstone. Drivers will get two additional tyres throughout Friday’s first and second free apply classes which is able to allow the engineers to assess the influence the new tyres can have on the present vehicles.
In truth, the process is not going to be new to groups and drivers. With Pirelli having already chosen race weekends for tyre testing over the course of the final years, groups and drivers are used to deal with the additional workload through the Friday apply classes that are condensed anyway due to the diminished observe time.
Pirelli revealed that the new specification will sport a sterner, harder tyre development with the compound varieties staying the identical. The new specification will see the introduction of supplies which have been initially deliberate for 2024.
Pirelli’s F1 chief Mario Isola commented: “We’ve seen how rather more efficiency the 2023 vehicles have in contrast to final yr all through the opening races of this season, and that’s thanks to the extraordinary tempo of growth proven by all 10 of the groups.
“In Miami, for instance, the pole time was almost two seconds sooner than final yr, however the identical type of progress has been seen throughout races as properly. Pirelli’s simulation work has at all times been geared toward not solely supplying a product that hits the efficiency targets specified by stakeholders, but in addition anticipating any potential issues and reacting to them rapidly.
“The new specification incorporates supplies that now we have already developed for 2024, which is able to make the tyres extra resistant with out affecting any of the opposite technical parameters or their behaviour on observe.
“To allow all the teams to test the new construction on a level playing field, Pirelli will supply two extra tyre sets per car to be used during FP1 and FP2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.”
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