F1 Tyres Wearing Out Rapidly – On Purpose?
There have been a lot of comments flying around lately, that the new Pirelli tyres that are being used for the Formula One races, are not performing terribly well. In particular they are accused of wearing out rapidly. In a video interview with Pirelli’s motorsport director, Paul Hembery, has admitted that in the brief the tyre manufacturer received from Formula One’s Bernie Ecclestone, it specified a short-lived tyre.
According to Hembery, Ecclestone asked them to make things “very interesting, very exciting – and make tyres that don’t last”. This was apparently an attempt to liven the races up a bit. Pirelli therefore went on to design a tyre that is only intended to last for around 50 kilometres. Obviously, this isn’t something they usually would do (not much market for car tyres that barely get you home from the garage that fitted them!), but as any company knows, you have to deliver what the customer asks for. In this respect, Pirelli are confident that Ecclestone is happy with the tyres they are providing.