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FIA asked the impossible from Pirelli

FIA "asked the impossible from Pirelli"

21-09-2020 10:27 Last update: 14:00
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GPblog.com

Pirelli has been under fire from the drivers for years. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, among others, wonder why the Italian manufacturer cannot simply make a competitive tyre. In 2020 it will not be good again. However, the FIA is now jumping into the breach and seeing its own mistakes.

Major problems with Pirelli tyre

Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Pirelli top executive Mario Isola recently indicated that if it were up to him, the manufacturer would make tyres that would make drivers happy. However, it has not been made easy for the manufacturer in recent years.

The 18-inch tyres that are coming are a lot easier for Pirelli to work with, yet the tyre manufacturer says they need more days of testing. The FIA now no longer leaves Pirelli alone in its defence against the criticism it receives, and takes some of the blame.

FIA aims at more realistic objectives

In order to help Pirelli make better tyres for Formula 1 in the future, the FIA is going to work on a new so-called 'Target Letter'. In 2016, the first targets that the FIA had in mind and that the Pirelli tyres had to meet were written down.

The second briefing should be ready in 2022 and will be drawn up in cooperation between the FIA, FOM and Pirelli. Technical Director of the FIA Nikolas Tombazis declares to Auto Motor und Sport:

"We asked Pirelli to do the impossible with regard to the balance between tyre wear and going full throttle throughout the race, but also at the same time to create several pit stops in a race and to see different compounds. We have set an impossible goal."