Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

F1: Teams to sample 2013 Pirelli tires at Grand Prix of Brazil

|
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En DirectTecnic
Khatir Soltani
Formula 1 teams will be able to sample the new year's generation of Pirelli tires during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Brazil, the last race of the 2012 season.

British motorsport magazine Autosport has learned that Pirelli is planning to introduce a new generation of tires, with a new stiffer construction set to offer teams a more predictable platform than they had this year.

Team will be given two sets of tires for each car in Friday's free practice session in Interlagos, November 23.

Mercedes AMG team boss Ross Brawn told Autosport that the numbers Pirelli provided them show that the tires will be quite different with a stiffer construction although the compounds will be quite similar.

F1 Pirelli tires
Photo: Pirelli

Despite the fact that the actual shape of the tires will be identical to this year, the stiffer construction means that it will behave very differently under load - so it is vital teams get an early indicator of what impact that will have on car performance and aerodynamics.

Friday in India, McLaren sporting director Sam Michael said he tinks that the test will be 'critical' for teams in their planning for next year.

“The test is very important because that is the only opportunity before February [to test them]. If it changes something fundamentally on the car that you suddenly need to change designs for, then that is what is critical when they change tire casings,” Michael explained.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada