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Pirelli wants drop-off 'cliff' return for F1
Pirelli wants to re-introduce a performance drop-off 'cliff' to its Formula 1 tyres in 2016 in a bid to guarantee more pitstops.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 14, 2015, 12:35 PM
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After complaints this year that its conservative approach has led to too many one-stop races, Pirelli is to test new ideas in Abu Dhabi that could shake things up in 2016.
In particular, the Italian company wants to bring back a tyre characteristic that it had when it first came in to F1, whereby its tyres dramatically lose performance near the end of their life.
Drivers and teams likened this phenomena to falling off a 'cliff', such was the increase in laptimes when it occurred.
Chemical plan
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said evaluation of the idea would take place in the post-Abu Dhabi tyre test that takes place after the last race.
"We would love to bring back a proper 'cliff'," said Hembery. "I don't know if we have enough opportunity to get a solution that works perfectly during the Abu Dhabi test, but the ideal situation is that we have a cliff back so we can get back to two or three stops, rather than pushing the stint lengths as has been a tendency in the last few years."
Hembery explained that the cliff could be achieved through changes in chemical composition inside the tyre, rather than changing specific compounds.
"The compounds won't change but there are things we can do inside the tyre to try to create a cliff," he explained. "It can be chemically engineered.
"It is what we trying, so it becomes unbeneficial to stay out for longer stints. It means you have to come in and change.
"If there is one input the teams have had, it is to get back to two or three stops rather than the predominant one stop racing we have had this year."
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