Paul Hembery: Pirelli considering return of qualifying tyres – Formula 1 news
The lone tyre suppliers of Formula 1 Pirelli have recently revealed that they are considering the reintroduction of qualifying tyres after consultation with the teams.
“We've put the idea of qualifying tyres to the teams and we will get their feedback. If they don't want to do it, we won't do it. It might be a step too far for next year and too much for the teams to take on board, but it's something that we have offered,”
Paul Hembery told the media.
Qualifying tyres are those tyres which are specially designed for qualifying purposes as they last for just a lap and give maximum performance.
These tyres were used back in 1991 when there used to be two tyre supplying companies in the sport. In order to increase the amount of competition, these types of tyres were introduced to the sport after which, they were banned by the officials since the
sport was supplied with tyres by just one company after 1991.
“We know that the public likes the idea of a qualifying tyre and drivers rather like the thrill of having a qualifying tyre and chasing that ultimate lap. It's a one-shot, zero-mistake tyre so it builds up the tension. It would be an extreme, one-hit tyre,
two seconds a lap quicker,” he added.
Nevertheless, the chief of Formula 1 Bernie Ecclestone claims that the teams do not perform at their best mainly because they are supplied with a limited amount of tyres and they try to save them.
In order to push them to perform at their best, he claims that another possible and simpler solution is that the tyre manufacturing company should provide the teams with more tyres.
The teams are currently supplied with a limited amount of option and prime tyres as a result of which they have to strategise their race completely. In order to get the best results during the race, the drivers stay in the pits and score laps only when required
as a result of which qualifying is not as exciting as it used to be.
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