Pirelli has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s plea to supply higher rain tyres after System 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying needed to be postponed for hostile climate circumstances.
Qualifying at Sao Paulo was first delayed and in the end postponed to Sunday morning following heavy rain showers and thunderstorms, which brought on standing water on varied components of the circuit.
Regardless of the most effective efforts of the marshals, extra rain prevented race management from finishing a qualifying session forward of sundown at 18:20 native time, with qualifying as a substitute happening at 7:30 native time on Sunday morning. With extra rain anticipated, the race time was introduced ahead to 12:30 to offer race management the most effective odds of getting the race within the books.
Explaining the rain delay
Moist climate
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
System 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali apologised for the delay to the followers, hoping they might perceive that “to race in these circumstances is not possible”.
Whereas chatting with F1 TV, Domenicali was interrupted by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who urged the F1 chief to verify Pirelli supplies higher moist tyres and brings again the usage of tyre blankets for its blue-walled compound, which have been solely eliminated final yr.
“It’s best to’ve despatched us out, that is ridiculous, we should always exit!,” Hamilton informed Domenicali in a pleasant, joking method. “Should you give us higher moist tyres or blankets we would be able to run on this. I am placing you on the spot proper now.”
The viability of Pirelli’s moist tyres has lengthy been a degree of criticism amongst F1 drivers. As a result of its intermediate compound is far more performant, Pirelli’s full wets have restricted use because the circumstances through which they’re most well-liked to intermediates are typically too excessive for F1 automobiles to run in anyway.
Enhancements on the horizon?
Pirelli’s motorsports chief Mario Isola acknowledged that the producer must step up its rain tyre efficiency, with growth ongoing for subsequent yr. However he defined that it’s missing moist tyre testing knowledge from probably the most demanding circuits to enlarge steps, with wet-tyre assessments a lot more durable to organise.
“It’s true that we have to enhance the efficiency of the moist tyre to generate a correct crossover with the intermediate,” Isola mentioned.
“That is our goal. Subsequent yr we could have a brand new moist tyre with some small modifications, as a result of sadly we did not have the likelihood to have a correct take a look at with the moist tyre on a excessive severity circuit. That’s precisely what we miss.
“We modified a bit bit the tread sample, labored on the development and on a brand new compound. We discovered an enchancment. I can not let you know whether it is sufficient or not.”
Isola additionally identified that, whereas he could not communicate for FIA race director Niels Wittich and his choice to name off qualifying on Saturday, there have been doubtless a number of different security elements behind the postponement of qualifying somewhat than the efficiency of Pirelli’s tyres.
The protection automobile on observe within the moist
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
“I do not know why Niels determined to not give it the inexperienced mild to the session, I do not know whether it is due to visibility, standing water, threat of aquaplaning, or every other factor. I did not communicate to Niels, so I’ve no data on that.
“If it is simply efficiency [on the wet tyre], it implies that they go slower, that is all. So the quickest of the sluggish automobiles is setting the most effective time.
“We’re absolutely conscious now we have to enhance the efficiency of the moist tyre. However you possibly can run on these moist tyres, it is not that you just can not run.”
As a part of Pirelli’s wet-tyre growth programme, Mercedes took half in a take a look at at Magny-Cours final month. The take a look at was carried out by Mick Schumacher and George Russell, with Hamilton not collaborating.
On the primary day of the take a look at reserve driver Schumacher was restricted to only 29 laps because the observe was too moist for significant operating, additional underlining F1’s long-standing wet-weather points.
Pirelli’s different choices to check its wet-weather compounds are to go to Fiorano or Paul Ricard, two circuits which have sprinklers put in to moist the observe floor.
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