Helmut Marko suspects there are "serious differences" in the quality of the sets of tyres being supplied this year by Pirelli. Red Bull's motor racing consultant also said the sole tyre supplier's 2012 product works only within a ludicrously small performance 'window', and favours cars with simple designs. According to the German language motorline.cc, Marko said Italian marque Pirelli "received an order to make formula one more exciting".
In 2011, for Pirelli's first season on the grid, the tyres spiced up the show due to their heavily-degrading nature. And this year, experts have explained that the tyres are 'mysterious' in terms of how the engineers and drivers can make them work. "Normally a tyre degrades steadily, but with the current Pirelli compounds they are working one lap and the next they're gone," said the outspoken Austrian.
And Marko said the Pirellis are also difficult to get working in the first place. "I think it was in Malaysia with Mark Webber, we were on the hard compound and we put in two clicks more of front wing -- a marginal different but 'Bang!' we were 1.2 seconds faster. We thought 'Boom! Our car is now great' but we put on the soft compound and were eight tenths slower," he said.
Marko said he suspects there are "serious differences" in the quality of the sets of tyres being supplied by Pirelli this year. "The result is that cars that are simple in design are easier to get to the windows in which the tyres work best."
At Valencia recently, however, Red Bull's latest developments appeared to be a breakthrough for the RB8, as Sebastian Vettel dominated qualifying and the race until his technical breakdown. "It hurts (rivals) terribly when you're so superior," explained Marko. "In the race we had to tell Vettel 'Go slower! Even slower! And now even slower!' We know too well -- if you are too far ahead you definitely lose more friends than you make." (GMM)
'Serious differences' in tyre quality in 2012 - Marko
- Published on 02 Jul 2012 16:45
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
What the international press said about Verstappen's Austria performanceMax Verstappen finished second at the Austrian Grand Prix after recovering from a qualifying crash, finishing just 1....
29 Jun 2026 11:13 -
Why Verstappen isn't frustrated by Red Bull's strategy callMax Verstappen has refused to criticise Red Bull after a strategic miscalculation cost him victory to George Russell....
29 Jun 2026 10:11 -
Ferrari pressures FIA over Mercedes diffuser ahead of AustriaFerrari has formally asked the FIA to clarify the legality of Mercedes' latest rear diffuser design, prompting th...
26 Jun 2026 16:22 -
Why McLaren and Red Bull are challenging Gasly's Monaco penalty reversalOscar Piastri has defended McLaren's decision to appeal the reversal of Pierre Gasly's Monaco Grand Prix pena...
26 Jun 2026 15:20 -
Why Montoya believes Russell's contract limbo is affecting his Mercedes formJuan Pablo Montoya believes George Russell's contract uncertainty is quietly undermining his performances at Merc...
26 Jun 2026 14:18
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 1,480
- Podiums 56
- Grand Prix 161
- Country DE
- Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (38)
- Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
- Weight 62 kg
- Length 1.75 m
- 281,401 comments on Aston Martin
57 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Sebastian Vettel
Team profile
- Team name Pirelli
- Base - Italy
- 37,476 comments on Pirelli
- 3 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Pirelli
Replies (0)
Login to reply