banner The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Auto News 5

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed

Do not miss the latest Auto News !

Nov
20th

F1: Pirelli tires to play a role in title decider

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From Pirelli

Pirelli has nominated the P Zero Silver hard tire and P Zero White medium tire for -- a somewhat conservative choice -- the Formula 1 title decider held this weekend at Interlagos, Brazil.

Interlagos is one of the shortest but also one of the most technically challenging circuits on the calendar of the year, with a 4.309-kilometre lap characterized by fast corners, hairpin bends and dramatic elevation changes.

The different surface variations mean that generating optimal grip and downforce is vital, particularly as there are a number of camber changes as well. Turn 14 - the slowest corner of the track - is a good example of some of the technical challenges that Interlagos poses for the tires: the drivers brake hard while heading uphill and then turning into the corner, before managing wheelspin carefully as they exit the turn.

Just to add to the demands of what is already an extremely complex and busy circuit, the weather at Interlagos is notoriously variable, meaning that the Cinturato Green intermediate and Cinturato Blue full wet tires could be called into service.

F1 Pirelli grand prix du Brésil
Départ du grand prix du Brésil 2011. (Photo: Pirelli)

The teams will also have two extra sets of next year's prototype tires at their disposal for Friday's free practice sessions, in order to give them an idea of the characteristics of the 2013 rubber.

The compounds and construction of the slick tires will be different, so this will be a valuable opportunity for the drivers to prepare for next year.

But with the title fight so closely balanced, many drivers will prefer to concentrate on Brazil: just one of the many crucial strategic decisions that they will have to make over the course of the weekend.

“We'll be bringing some of our 2013 prototype tires to Brazil in order for the teams to get a taste of them during free practice,” Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery said.

“With no testing until February otherwise, this will be an extremely valuable opportunity for them to see what our new tyres are like as they finalise their 2013 cars. Both the compounds and construction will be different, which means that the characteristics of the new tires will be altered, with a wider working range and some compounds that are slightly more aggressive. We've yet to finalise where exactly all the compounds will sit in relation to each other, which is why we are calling the tyre to be used in Brazil a ‘prototype' rather than giving it a specific nomination, but it will be very representative of our general design philosophy next year,” Hembery declared.



Hosted by CifTech Hosting.