Breaking news
Formula 1
Pirelli to be 'very conservative' for 2014 - Hembery
Despite the radical engine rules shift, little will change on the tyre front.
GMM
Edited: Oct 1, 2013, 3:00 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Oct.1 (GMM) The days where Grands Prix are spiced-up by deliberately heavily-degrading tyres could be over.
Since the tyre-exploding crisis earlier this season, and the mid-year shift from steel to kevlar-belted tyres, Pirelli has also been taking more conservative compound choices to the races.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director
Photo by: XPB Images
Very recently, it has culminated in less exiting Grands Prix, and runaway championship leader Sebastian Vettel's now tight grip on the second half of the season.
And for 2014, despite the radical engine rules shift, little will change on the tyre front.
"We will take a very conservative strategy," Pirelli boss Paul Hembery told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"We will take the worst-case simulation as the basis for the development of the tyre structure."
Hembery argues Pirelli has been pushed in that direction by the teams, who are not overly willing to help with tyre development for 2014.
Indeed, even the attempt to test with a representative car - Mercedes' current W04 - ended spectacularly badly for both the German team and F1's tyre supplier.
Now, Pirelli is having to conduct 1000 kilometre tests with two-year old cars, such as the one with Red Bull in Barcelona recently.
"It went well, as far as we can tell," said Hembery. "The car is three seconds faster than our Lotus test car.
"But we are still expecting a journey into the unknown with the new 2014 cars."
Even a post-race test in Brazil after the 2013 season finale has now been cancelled.
"It (the tyre development situation) is because of the paranoia of the teams," said Hembery.
"What we need in order to do our job, unfortunately doesn't fit with what the teams want. And nobody is coming up with a solution."
There is also uncertainty about Pirelli's longer-term future in F1.
The FIA has finally rubber-stamped the marque's presence on the grid beyond 2013, but a statement said that is just a "transition period" because Bernie Ecclestone and the teams had already agreed deals with Pirelli.
"Pirelli has five year agreements signed with Ecclestone and the teams and expects that these are respected," said La Gazzetta dello Sport's Andrea Cremonesi.
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 Viber
Previous article Go see Rush
Next article Big F1 teams oppose single fuel supplier
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Sebastian Vettel
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sebastian Vettel reveals why BMW didn't want him – but Red Bull did
More from
Mercedes
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
6 h
Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
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:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe