Pirelli Will Not Change Tires Before Bahrain Grand Prix

Pirelli says that it has no plans to revaluate its tires for this season before the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 21. Teams, specifically Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
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and MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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, have criticized this season’s tires for being too fragile and forcing drivers to do too much to save them. After Bahrain, it may re-evaluate the tires.

"I think we have to be happy. The two leading teams clearly had issues between the drivers, that maybe took away from what would have been an interesting finale,” Pirelli’s F1 tire director Paul Hembery.

Hembery puts most of the blame on the teams for the problems with the tires. He says that the problems are isolated, and Red Bull is just complaining loudly. Pirelli does not want to change the tires at the whim of a single team.

Pirelli is in a precarious position. The F1 organizers specify the tires, not the teams, but the teams are the ones who complain if the tires are not right. It is trying to serve two parties with different interests. The organizers want close, competitive races that look good on television. The teams want to win.

Source: Autosport