Paul Hembery may recruit Di Grassi as test driver and is anxious of Malaysian GP – Formula 1
Pirelli motorsport director, Paul Hembery, fears that the Malaysian circuit will be a tough test for the Pirelli tyre compound because the track temperature at this time of the year is up to 50 degrees. Hembery further added that under normal conditions
there would be four pit-stops on the Sepang circuit but more might be required if the temperature is higher.
The Australian Grand Prix saw much fewer pit-stops than expected because the track temperature was fair and most drivers only did two pit-stops, while some did three pit-stops and completed the whole race distance of 58 laps. Most astonishing was Sauber’s
Sergio Perez, who only had one pit-stop and completed 40 laps on a single set of super-soft Pirelli tyres.
The tyre degradation was not at the same level as in Australia and many drivers were happy with the Pirelli tyres. Paul Hembery however fears that the main Pirelli test will be in Malaysia where the track temperatures will be higher than in Australia. He
stated, “The nature of the Sepang circuit and the more than 50 degrees of track temperature will probably be the most aggressive combination for our tyres.”
Hembery explained that rain can change the scenario where only average degradation will be seen and a normal number of pit-stops. He added that at this part of the year the track and air temperatures will make four stops normal for every driver.
Meanwhile Lucas Di Grassi will possibly become a test driver at Pirelli after Pedro de La Rosa will leave to join the McLaren team as a reserve driver. Rosa will do a final test of Pirelli tyres on the modified Toyota chassis in Istanbul this month.
Di Grassi was left without a driver this season after driving for then debutant team Virgin. He was left off as Virgin took on board Jerome D’Ambrosio. Now Di Grassi may get to drive for the Pirelli Company. He said an experience like that would be “would
be interesting”.
The next race starts in less than a week in Malaysia and will be a tough challenge for the Pirelli tyres and also for the drivers.
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