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the trees and all that jazz.
Pirelli plans to test a new hard compound tyre in practice at the British Grand Prix, which will be easier for teams to work with, but has admitted it is wary of introducing it for races because of fears it could have an impact on the tight world championship battle.
F1 teams are in agreement this year that getting the tyres in to the right operational window is a key element to performance, because cars are now so similar in terms of their speed.
However, many teams have struggled to unlock the secrets of Pirelli's 2012 rubber - especially when it comes to extracting pace from it in both low fuel conditions for qualifying and then for the race.
To help that situation Pirelli is looking at a new hard compound that will have a wider operational range – and should therefore be a help to teams who are struggling to get into the right temperature window.
But despite plans to test it, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery says his company is seriously concerned about making any change to the tyres because it could change the competitive situation in F1.
"There is a big point to make that if we make a change, particularly with the way the championship has been played this year so close, we don't want to risk creating an advantage for a particular team," he told AUTOSPORT.
"So if you imagine, suddenly, for races 10, 11 and 12 one team starts running away, then we're going to come under all the criticism.
"We'll test because we want to understand the effect and impact, but it's not necessarily going to happen that we bring it to the races. We've got to be very careful because there's a big difference with the teams on where they are with the tyres at the moment.
"We talk to the technicians, so then they're trying to find the success of finding that key of keeping the performance at the highest level for as long as possible.
"They would be rather upset, I think, if suddenly it was a little bit easier, and the people that have worked so hard felt that they were getting there, and another team then gets there. You need to be careful with things like that because it changes during the championship."
With a wider temperature range, the new hard compound would be particularly well-suited to warmer conditions, where many teams have struggled to find the right car set-up.
:censored: the trees and all that jazz.
Take the tyre rules back to what they used to be - 3 compounds of slicks (soft, intermediate and hard) and intermediates and full wets and let the drivers and teams use what they want as many times as they want. If this happens, F1 might just have tyre rules that are not a total and utter farce and the gulf stream will keep flowing.
It's certainly a more gripping situation than some title "battles" in years gone by.
It's certainly a more gripping situation than some title "battles" in years gone by.
Or less gripping, depends who the driver is
It's certainly a more gripping situation than some title "battles" in years gone by.
Or less gripping, depends who the driver is
Hahahaha, careful you don't start pushing Buttons now, RC!
It's certainly a more gripping situation than some title "battles" in years gone by.
Or less gripping, depends who the driver is
Hahahaha, careful you don't start pushing Buttons now, RC!
Let's face it, when MrE eventually launches F1 on ice, we all know which driver will be well prepared. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.
Right, I think I've saved this thread with a bad joke.
Pirelli test driver Lucas di Grassi believes teams will find the new experimental hard compound tyres that will be evaluated at Silverstone this weekend a step forward - even though the Italian manufacturer will not be rushed in to racing it in case it favours an individual team.
As AUTOSPORT revealed last month, Pirelli is to try out a new hard compound in Friday practice for the British Grand Prix. The new tyre should have a wider operating window, which will make it easier for teams to use.
Di Grassi has first hand experience with the tyres, and suggests there will be little doubt among the teams about its advantages.
"I tested the experimental hard compound tyre in Jerez earlier this year: it's a similar concept to the current hard but with improved combined grip and better wear," he said.
"It's particularly effective in warm weather and when the track conditions are poor - so you end up with a tyre that is quicker and lasts longer."
But although teams may welcome the new rubber, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has reiterated that careful thought will be given to any idea of racing it because of the competitive implications it could have.
"The new tyre has a slightly wider working range, which should make it easier for the teams to get the tyres into the right operating temperature window," he explained.
"But with the championship so finely balanced, our priority is to ensure that no one team is handed any particular advantage.
"We want to keep the performance of the tyres at the highest level for as long as possible, so this is a valuable opportunity for ourselves and all the teams to gather more information about the potential effect of a new compound, and gain some data for the future."
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