From Pirelli and GMM
Most drivers opted to use the Pirelli PZero hard-compound rubber, which has been nominated as the prime tire in Australia, at the start of this morning's qualifying session, but all moved onto soft tires in order to set their fastest laps.
Like the rest of the top 10, Sebastian Vettel set his fastest time on the soft-compound at Albert Park, denoted by yellow Pirelli markings. These tires are designed to provide peak performance for a comparatively short period of time.
Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Paul Hembery commented: “We’ve had a thrilling qualifying session and set the quickest lap ever seen here, which has demonstrated the speed and reliability of our PZero tires on a wide variety of front-running cars.
"Albert Park is well-known as a tricky circuit that does not retain a lot of rubber, but despite the comparatively cool conditions this afternoon all the drivers demonstrated that they were able to make the most of the unique characteristics and excellent performance of our tires," he said.
Meanwhile, Olivier Panis has revealed he does not believe F1's new tire supplier when it says it designed its 2011 tires to wear so rapidly.
"Pirelli is a good manufacturer but they're new to formula one and it's normal that it takes them some time to adapt," Panis, told Le Monde.
Rubens Barrichello told Brazil's Globo: "The degradation is not so bad. They will be better, but still I think it will be a three-stop race."
"I was surprised. The grip was much better than we expected," said world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Most drivers opted to use the Pirelli PZero hard-compound rubber, which has been nominated as the prime tire in Australia, at the start of this morning's qualifying session, but all moved onto soft tires in order to set their fastest laps.
Like the rest of the top 10, Sebastian Vettel set his fastest time on the soft-compound at Albert Park, denoted by yellow Pirelli markings. These tires are designed to provide peak performance for a comparatively short period of time.
Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Paul Hembery commented: “We’ve had a thrilling qualifying session and set the quickest lap ever seen here, which has demonstrated the speed and reliability of our PZero tires on a wide variety of front-running cars.
"Albert Park is well-known as a tricky circuit that does not retain a lot of rubber, but despite the comparatively cool conditions this afternoon all the drivers demonstrated that they were able to make the most of the unique characteristics and excellent performance of our tires," he said.
Meanwhile, Olivier Panis has revealed he does not believe F1's new tire supplier when it says it designed its 2011 tires to wear so rapidly.
"Pirelli is a good manufacturer but they're new to formula one and it's normal that it takes them some time to adapt," Panis, told Le Monde.
Rubens Barrichello told Brazil's Globo: "The degradation is not so bad. They will be better, but still I think it will be a three-stop race."
"I was surprised. The grip was much better than we expected," said world champion Sebastian Vettel.