Pirelli 2013 F1 tyre range

[Galahad]

Going back two or three years, Michelin consistently said they weren't in the least interested in a single supplier situation; they wanted someone to beat. But I suppose there may have been a change of position on that.

 

[Blog Zbod]

The V-6T has its own overtaking multiplier built in -- the mega-CURSE -- so both DRS and disinte-Pirellis could be/should be made redundant. Even at Monaco, there won't be enough enough petrol on board simply to reach the finish (at anything resembling race pace) without significant contribution from the ERS. 2014's mega-CURSE theoretically can produce 10x the per-lap output the 2013 CURSE, but that is a gargantuan increase from a device that has yet to show stellar reliability. Cooling always has been the CURSE's Achilles' heel, principally because aerodynamicists are so reluctant to relinquish airflow to cool the electric motor when it could be being used to improve downforce. So I shouldn't expect to see any team running ERS to the full potential as allowed in the TR for some time ...if ever.

Consequently, the teams with the best ERS should dominate. Unless, of course, the teams en masse elect to forgo the 2014 formula mega-CURSE and default instead to incremental upgrades to the 2013 formula CURSE. In which case 2014 will devolve into a fuel economy contest with drivers once again "lapping to the Delta," except that ∆elta will be determined by fuel economy, not tyre life.

In any case, there is no reason not to return to proper spec racing tyres for 2014.

 

[Fenderman]

Very interesting thoughts there Blog Zbod. Quite a bit to chew over in the lead up to next years championship.

 

[Brogan]

The new tyres won't now be used at the British GP, due to "inconclusive testing of the developments in Canada last weekend".

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108020

 

[FB]

Maybe they need to run a private test session using one of this years cars. Wonder if any of the teams would be up for this? (ducks for cover)

 

[Brogan]

Apparently McLaren asked but Pirelli refused on the grounds that they're "a bit shit".

 

[Fenderman]

... when Rootersport asked about this, Marwash Whitmunch said "We weren't disappointed that our offer to help was refused. It was quite nice to have such an honest confession from Pirelli."

 

[Brogan]

The tyres won't now be changing due to "opposition from certain teams".

The plan to replace the steel belt with a kevlar belt has been shelved and the delaminations will be resolved via a new production process.

http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/06/13/teams-scupper-pirellis-plans-to-change-construction/

 

[Fenderman]

Good news for the teams that use the "swap sides" trick with the rears, then.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Good news for those who developed their cars in a way which makes best use of the tyres they were given as opposed to those teams who designed their cars and then demanded that the tyres be modified for use with their cars.

 

[Slyboogy]

Looks like Red Bull have found a way anyway.

 

[teabagyokel]

Slyboogy - I wouldn't be so sure, Monaco is notoriously low deg, and Vettel had won it by turn 3 in Canada. What is interesting is that Webber was beaten by Alonso...!

Admittedly, the relative levels of talent may go some way to explaining that, but at Silverstone they may not have Mercedes and Williams between them and Alonso.

 

[Slyboogy]

That may be true.

The Red Bull car just looks consistent in all aspects, as did the Ferrari, but the latters slipped a bit and is lacking in qualifying.

Red Bull's (Vettel) have maximised its results, and the others have faltered, by the time the rest catch (if they do) Red Bull will have sorted their problems.

Anyway, dunno where I've taken this topic

 

[KekeTheKing]

Good news for the teams that use the "swap sides" trick with the rears, then.

Which will probably be everybody by the end of the year. They've got more than enough time this summer to sort it out.

 

[Brogan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22905355

Lotus have accused Pirelli of making overly conservative tyre choices for two of the next three races.

 

[jez101]

I think we had the soft and the supersoft in Hungary two years ago. Then last year the soft and medium, now the medium and the hard. I can see Lotus' point. Red Bull win again because Horner threw a strop.

 

[The Pits]

I thought that the grades were all one step softer this season? so in effect, the tyre choice is actually the same as last year.

 

[HansyRod]

I thought that the grades were all one step softer this season? so in effect, the tyre choice is actually the same as last year.

Well, if I remember correctly, last year's race was godawful, so I guess some softer tyres wouldn't hurt...

 

[Blog Zbod]

In this week's Autosport magazine (p.11), Gary Anderson notes that Red Bull ran a new wing at Barcelona, with vanes added specifically "to catch or divert the [clag] away from the splitters inside the slot gaps."



By the third race of the 2011 season, Paul Hembery already was promising to look into the clag problem. That was more than two years ago, in case anyone's counting. Yet here Red Bull are with a new anti-clag front wing.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

I was just talking to Sh4dow about the degredation of the tyres at Le Mans. If the F1 pirelli's were being used the cars would have to be equipped with snow ploughs in order to cut through the marbles off line while overtaking.