Pirelli considering to buy new F1 test car

  • Published on 23 Nov 2013 13:24
  • comments 0
  • By: Danny Sosef
Pirelli is considering buying a new F1 test car from one of the teams. Already frustrated by the lack of testing opportunities, and the teams' collective reluctance to help, F1's official supplier became further dismayed in Brazil when wet weather affected its plans to try the 2014 tyres in Friday practice.

"We wouldn't have brought it (the 2014 tyre) here if we didn't want to run it," motor sport boss Paul Hembery said.

It was a further frustration on top of a frustrating situation overall for Pirelli. The Italian marque now wants to test the tyres in dry Bahrain in December, but the teams cannot agree about who should accompany Pirelli to the island Kingdom.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren is offering to provide a car and send personnel at its own expense.

"It would give our new driver Kevin Magnussen some more experience," admitted team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

But some teams, like Mercedes and Ferrari, reportedly believe another Pirelli-shod test for McLaren would not be fair.

"I think we all want to help Pirelli provide the best tyre they can," said Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn, "but it would be unfortunate if one team had the benefit of running a tyre to the exclusion of all the others."

Hembery said: "If the teams are not able to sort out the problem, we will buy a car -- just as we did previously with Toyota and Renault."

If Pirelli buys a car now, it would have to buy a 2011 model, according to the testing rules. But if it waits until January 1, it can buy a 2012 model.

But Hembery said Pirelli might actually go for a 2013 single seater.

"This is a grey area," Hembery said. "Actually, we can't be prohibited (from running a 2013 car) because we are not a competitor.

"We would use the data only for ourselves, and each team could send an observer if they want to," he added.

Hembery's frustration, meanwhile, is obvious. "It's like having to develop tyres wearing a blindfold," he is quoted by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "No manufacturer, not Bridgestone or Michelin, would agree to return to F1 under these conditions."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

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
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DK
  • Date of b. Oct 5 1992 (31)
  • Place of b. Roskilde, DK
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar