Breaking news

Formula 1 British GP

Pirelli has ‘wild card’ tyre plan for 2016

Pirelli is ready to implement a 'wild card' option at certain Formula 1 races next year where teams will be allowed freedom of tyre choice, but has made clear that it will choose compounds at those events where safety is an issue.

Adam Cooper

Adam Cooper

Edited: Jul 3, 2015, 2:26 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Pirelli tyres

Pirelli tyres

Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director in the FIA Press Conference

Pirelli tyres

Pirelli tyres

Pirelli tyres

After the FIA confirmed this week that there would be more 'freedom of choice' for teams, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has revealed how it intends things to work.

The intention is that at selected races teams will have a free choice of compounds, while at tracks where there is a question mark over safety – such as Monza – Pirelli will dictate the choice.

Hembery told Motorsport.com: "The idea is to have certain wild card events and certain block-out events where it just wouldn't be advisable due to safety reasons.

"I don't think we've got the final situation yet, but we're getting closer to a solution that the teams are looking for, gives the sport what it needs, and allows us to maintain a level of safety on the choices that are made."

Hembery said different ideas are still in play and that things will be worked out with the teams over the next few months.

"There are a couple of proposals being refined. A lot of it has been chopped and changed and consolidated.

"We've got a bit of time yet, it probably needs to be September time before we refine it. A couple of new ideas have come out in the last 24 hours that are even more interesting.

"But it's all going in the same direction, to give the idea of some choice, and to allow flexibility for the teams while giving a guarantee that the race can be run because they've got a product that can do the race distance."

Super supersoft

As part of the change, Pirelli wants to have an extra tyre in the range, known variously as an 'ultra soft' or 'super supersoft.'

"One little step next year might be a super supersoft, technically speaking a supersoft for the Monaco or possibly Singapore that goes one step further than what we have at the moment," added Hembery.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Mercedes under investigation for Rosberg car incident

Next article British GP: Rosberg fastest from Raikkonen in second practice

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Adam Cooper



RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024

Formula 1

Formula 1

Japanese GP

RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024



Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team



Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

Formula 1

Formula 1

Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility

Latest news



HMD Motorsports confirms Leonardo Escorpioni to 2027 Indy NXT roster

Indy NXT

IndL Indy NXT 1 min

HMD Motorsports confirms Leonardo Escorpioni to 2027 Indy NXT roster



“I couldn’t disappear” – Oliver Bearman rues “crazy” penalty for Pierre Gasly clash

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

59 min

“I couldn’t disappear” – Oliver Bearman rues “crazy” penalty for Pierre Gasly clash



Is MotoGP’s title fight over after the Australian GP swing?

MotoGP

Australian GP

Is MotoGP’s title fight over after the Australian GP swing?



The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Feature

Discover prime content



The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027



A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP



How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

Formula 1

United States GP

By Stuart Codling

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe