Pirelli Set Deadline For 2020 Tyre Decision

If 70% of the teams decide to stay on the 2019 tyre, next year’s tyres will be the 2019 ones

Pirelli has sought a decision from Formula 1 on the adoption of its 2020 tyres by next Monday, December 9, says Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola.

All the 10 teams ran the 2020-spec compound across Tuesday and Wednesday at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi during which Pirelli supplied both 2019 and 2020 tyres to allow competitors to undertake a straightforward comparison.

“Because some of [the drivers] found an improvement in some characteristics of the tyre or some compounds but not an improvement on some other characteristics – or in some cases the new tyres are not working at the expected level. So that’s why it will not be very easy to understand the real performance of the tyres”, said Isola.

Isola further added, “For the moment, the FIA has homologated the 2020 tyres so this is the product for next year – unless after the test, and each team has given feedback to the FIA, there is a decision taken by at least 70% of the teams to stay on the 2019 tyre. In that case, next year’s tyres will be the 2019 ones.”

After yesterday’s final day of testing, teams will analyse their data and deliver their feedback to the FIA which will then decide further course of action with Pirelli.

“We have no concerns because the 2019 product is very good. We had an exciting season with a lot of action and good racing so I’m not worried about staying on the 2019. In that case, what is important for us – for Pirelli – is to understand why we had a different result during our tyre development tests compared to the final test. So that is important to improve our process and our systems for the future”, said Isola.

Source: Formula1