Pirelli scrap soft tyres for Bahrain

[Dare]

from PlanetF1

Pirelli won't be using their controversial soft compound at this weekend's Bahrain GP.

The manufacturer revealed its tyre allocation for the first four grands prix before the start of the season and their new 2013-spec soft and hard tyres were pencilled in for the Sakhir circuit.

However, the soft rubber was criticised quite heavily by several teams in China this weekend as they believe the degradation levels are too high and it spoiled racing.

The Italian firm confirmed on Tuesday that the medium tyre will replace the softs for the race in Bahrain.

A Pirelli spokesperson, though, told Sky Sports Online that 'the decision to bring the medium tyre to Bahrain had already been made prior to Shanghai, with the decision communicated to the teams two weeks ago'.

He added 'the decision to go one step harder on the option tyre had been made in light of Pirelli's initial experiences with their 2013 rubber prior to China and also related to the high ambient temperatures in Bahrain and the sandy nature of the stop-start track'.

Meanwhile, Pirelli are not ruling out modifying their rubbers for the European leg of the 2013 season.

Pirelli motorsport chief Paul Hembery says any modifications for Barcelona are part of a routine procedure, and not bowing to pressure.

"In 2011 we made some changes to our compounds, last year we did not," he told German new agency dpa. "The decision whether or not we will make changes to our current compounds will be announced after Bahrain and would then be applied from Barcelona onwards. The changes would not be structural but minor changes to the compounds."

Several drivers and teams have criticised this year's tyres, but Hembery insists no one has asked them to change the compound.

"There has not been one team so far this year that has come to us directly to ask us to change the tyres. Quite on the contrary actually. A lot of the team principals and engineers have told us expressively not to change anything," he added.

[F1fanaticBD]

I have a feeling Pirelli is bowing under pressure, which I do not like. Soft would have make thinks pretty interesting, mediums will just bring predictability. I expected to stand up for your decisions Pirelli 

[Alianora La Canta]

Depends. If the softs would have been substantially worse in Bahrain than calculations suggested, then it is possible that Pirelli decided the intended effect of softs at that specific circuit would not have come about. The soft tyres did degrade faster than it expected at China. That was not necessarily to the detriment of China itself, but it may have knock-on effects on the calculations for Bahrain wear.

Of course, if this is a question of bowing to pressure, that's just plain bad.

[Scott]

Hope they recycle them into a playground or something.

[vintly]

I think it's a prudent move. The softs seem like a quali-only tyre...

[Alianora La Canta]

Hope they recycle them into a playground or something.

A recent F1 Racing article said Pirelli F1 tyres are turned into diesel fuel after use, regardless of whether they were used or not.

[cosworth151]

I think that Pirelli is responding to conditions. The heat and abrasiveness of the Bahrain circuit would not suit them at all. They might do better at some of the European tracks.

[Scott]

Kimi questions tire changes.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106847

I love the last line:

"Sometimes you have some issues and you pay the price for it. But that's OK because otherwise it would be easy."