New regulations create big challenge in terms of tyre temperature

With the new cars of 2022 also come new wheels and new tyres from Pirelli. There are going to be two big changes for the teams with regard to tires. The challenge is going to be in the warming up of the tires.

Starting in 2022, after F2 tried them out for one season, F1 will also run with eighteen-inch wheels. The new Pirelli tyres will be introduced at the same time as the new set of rules in Formula 1. In addition to the changed operation of the tyres due to the increase in surface area, there are also rules that will ensure that the teams will have a harder time with the temperatures of the tires. This is because the electric blankets are no longer allowed to be as warm as last year and the teams are no longer allowed to use all the heat released from braking to warm up the tyres.

Big challenge for all teams predicted

Because the rubber of the F1 cars has a very precise working temperature prescribed, the new rules that make it more difficult to warm up the tyre are drastic. During testing in Abu Dhabi, drivers have already been driving the new material. Pirelli chief Mario Isola says about that to Auto Motor und Sport: "The drivers let us know that it takes a few laps for the tires to reach the working window on the two hardest compounds."

So the drivers have already indicated that generating temperature is going to be difficult. Of course, this also depends on the track. On a track with more fast corners it would possibly be easier.

In addition to the lower starting temperature due to the fewer hot blankets being used, restrictions have also been placed on braking. Previously, teams used the heat released from braking by cleverly routing it past the rims and heating the tyres from the inside. This is no longer possible from this year onwards, as the brakes, rims and hubcaps are supplied as standard by the supplier. There is more space around the brake discs, which also allows for more air. In Abu Dhabi during the tests the teams could still regulate the brake cooling itself. Pirelli has advised to maximize that cooling in order to simulate the circumstances of this year's rule changes.