Pirelli wants to reach the end of 2021 with 2019 tyres

In Formula 1 the 2019 tyres will be used until the end of next year. Pirelli has confirmed this this weekend. Only when the new cars are introduced in 2022 will the Italian tyre supplier come up with new rubber.

In the pinnacle of motorsport it is highly unusual to drive on the same tyres for three seasons, but it's going to happen now. This is because the new regulations have been postponed by one year to 2022 due to the corona crisis and because the teams unanimously agreed not to drive with the tyres originally developed for 2020.

Less downforce in F1

That is why the 2019 tyres will be used to make the necessary kilometres. This did cause a small problem, as the current cars have already been developed to such an extent that only last year a lot of downforce gains were made. That would only get worse in 2020 and 2021 and that's why the FIA intervened at Pirelli's request.

"In the beginning there were many different options on the table. Then it was finally decided that it would be best to change something at the bottom of the car," said Pirelli top executive Mario Isola to Motorsport-Total.com. The floor of the car will be a lot less advanced in 2021, so designers like Adrian Newey of Red Bull Racing can be less creative with finding downforce. Red Bull seems to be one of the teams that is likely to lose the most downforce due to this measure because of the high rake.