Source: Pirelli Media

F1 News

Pirelli worried bad weather could affect testing

Pirelli worried bad weather could affect testing

30-01-2019 09:45
Author profile picture

Jake Williams-Smith

Pirelli is fearful that poor weather could once again hamper winter testing ahead of the 2019 season. Last year, ice and snow put testing on hold for almost a week due and prevented vital track time for both the teams and F1's sole tyre supplier.

Both pre-season tests will take place at the same venue as last year, the Circuit de Catalunya the traditional test location in F1 currently despite calls for Bahrain to play host.

Although that idea was shot down due to excess costs of transportation, Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola has conceded that once again they will be hamstrung by the weather if it decides not to play ball.

“Until the beginning of January it was like it was spring in Barcelona, but now it is much colder,” he told Motorsport.com.

“We know what happened last year, we are worried. This year we are one week earlier than last year but you never know, we have also had beautiful weather at the beginning of February and sometimes winter lingers.

“The temperatures are often around freezing early in the morning, but around noon it is often pleasant. I’m sure the teams will use this time well to get the tyres to work.”

Isola admitted that the location wasn't ideal weather-wise but moving testing to another location would prove difficult due to the transportation of new parts to the circuit from the factories being crucial.

“We need representative weather. It is also different because the teams are working on the development of their new cars.

“The priority is to cover as many kilometers as possible at a location that is reasonably close to the factories of the teams. Then it is easy for the teams to send new parts to Barcelona.”