user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list

Pirelli getting credit and blame for unbalance of power

  • Published on 27 Apr 2012 11:51
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Pirelli is getting the credit - or the blame - for F1's unstable pecking order so far in 2012. For the first time in almost three decades, four different cars - McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull - have won the opening four races of the season, while others - Lotus and Sauber - have displayed potential winning pace.

"The explanation is Pirelli -- it's the tyres," Swiss commentator and former F1 driver Marc Surer told Austrian television Servus TV. "It's been a question of who can make them work, and that is depending on a number of factors."

Some cars, for example, require the tyres to be running hot and working hard before they deliver their pace, whilst others only find the 'sweet spot' in cold conditions. For most, however, it's just a mystery. "We know we were slow (in Bahrain) but we don't understand why," revealed Melbourne winner Jenson Button.

Publicly, teams like McLaren are hailing the invigorated 'show'. Privately, they may be looking back ruefully on the Bridgestone era. "Bridgestone made great tyres that could hold on for the whole race," Surer continued. "The only tension was when the two at the front were going to pit. Now, there is a stress factor that has been produced by the tyre company. Sometimes, maybe, it's a bit too much."

Vitantonio Liuzzi, the former HRT driver, doesn't agree with Surer's final point, nor Michael Schumacher's claim that Pirelli needs to rethink its approach to making F1 tyres. "The tyres are not blowing up, they are not blistering and it's always a challenge for both drivers and engineers to set up the car properly and get the maximum out of them. A tricky situation," he told gocar.gr. "We have to give thumbs up to Pirelli for the work they have done."

It is on Liuzzi's point about the situation being "tricky" that F1 team bosses completely agree about. "The challenge is how to use the tyres, how to set up your car," said Mercedes' Norbert Haug. Agreed Red Bull's Christian Horner: "I think this year the tyre has dominated performance and I think it's crucial to try and understand how they work." "It's clear," Lotus' Eric Boullier added, "that the key for performance is the tyres." (GMM)
F1 News Jenson Button Sauber Mercedes Pirelli McLaren Lotus F1 Ferrari HRT

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
141
2
Ferrari
120
3
McLaren
69
4
Mercedes
34
5
Aston Martin
33
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

GB Jenson Button 22
Jenson Button
  • Team McLaren
  • Points 37
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 41
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (44)
  • Place of b. Frome, Somerset, GB
  • Weight 72 kg
  • Length 1.82 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Sauber
Show full profile
show sidebar