Pirelli has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s plea to supply higher rain tyres after Formulation 1’s Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying was postponed for antagonistic climate circumstances.
Qualifying in Sao Paulo was first delayed and in the end postponed to Sunday morning following heavy rain showers and thunderstorms, which triggered standing water on varied components of the circuit.
Regardless of the perfect efforts of the marshals, extra rain prevented race management from finishing a qualifying session forward of sundown at 18:20 native time, with qualifying instead taking place at 7:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on Sunday morning.
With extra rain anticipated, the race time was brought forward to 12:30 to offer race management the perfect odds of getting the race within the books.
Moist climate
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Explaining the rain delay
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali apologised for the delay to the followers, hoping they might perceive that “to race in these circumstances is inconceivable”.
Whereas chatting with F1 TV, Domenicali was interrupted by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who urged the F1 chief to ensure Pirelli supplies higher moist tyres and brings again the usage of tyre blankets for its blue-walled compound, which had been solely eliminated final yr.
“It’s best to’ve despatched us out, that is ridiculous, we should always exit!,” Hamilton instructed Domenicali in a pleasant, joking method. “In case you give us higher moist tyres or blankets we would be able to run on this. I am placing you on the spot proper now.”
The viability of Pirelli’s moist tyres has lengthy been a degree of criticism amongst F1 drivers. As a result of its intermediate compound is far more performant, Pirelli’s full wets have restricted use because the circumstances through which they’re most well-liked to intermediates are usually too excessive for F1 automobiles to run in anyway.
Pirelli take a look at
Photograph by: Pirelli
Enhancements on the horizon?
Pirelli’s motorsports chief Mario Isola acknowledged that the producer must step up its rain tyre efficiency, with improvement ongoing for subsequent yr. However he defined that it’s missing moist tyre testing knowledge from essentially the most demanding circuits to amplify steps, with wet-tyre checks a lot more durable to organise.
“It’s true that we have to enhance the efficiency of the moist tyre to generate a correct crossover with the intermediate,” Isola stated.
“That is our goal. Subsequent yr we can have a brand new moist tyre with some small modifications, as a result of sadly we did not have the chance to have a correct take a look at with the moist tyre on a excessive severity circuit. That’s precisely what we miss.
“We modified somewhat bit the tread sample, labored on the development and on a brand new compound. We discovered an enchancment. I can’t inform you whether it is sufficient or not.”
The protection automobile on monitor within the moist
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
Isola additionally identified that, whereas he could not communicate for FIA race director Niels Wittich and his determination to name off qualifying on Saturday, there have been probably a number of different security components behind the postponement of qualifying somewhat than the efficiency of Pirelli’s tyres.
“I do not know why Niels determined to not give it the inexperienced gentle to the session,” he added. “I do not know whether it is due to visibility, standing water, danger of aquaplaning, or every other aspect. I did not communicate to Niels, so I’ve no data on that.
“If it is simply efficiency [on the wet tyre], it signifies that they go slower, that is all. So the quickest of the sluggish automobiles is setting the perfect time.
“We’re totally conscious we’ve to enhance the efficiency of the moist tyre. However you’ll be able to run on these moist tyres, it is not that you simply can’t run.”
As a part of Pirelli’s wet-tyre improvement programme, Mercedes took half in a take a look at at Magny-Cours final month. The take a look at was carried out by reserve driver Mick Schumacher and George Russell, with Hamilton not collaborating.
On the primary day of the take a look at, Schumacher was restricted to simply 29 laps because the monitor was too moist for significant working, additional underlining F1’s long-standing wet-weather points.
Pirelli’s different choices to check its wet-weather compounds are to go to Fiorano or Paul Ricard, two circuits which have sprinklers put in to moist the monitor floor.
Watch: What Brazil’s Rained Off Qualifying Means for Sundays Race – F1 Saturday Response