Pirelli considers buying new Formula One test car
"If the teams are not able to sort out the problem, we will buy a car" - Paul Hembery
Photo by: XPB Images
Nov.23 (GMM) 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.
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," the Briton added.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Komatsu: Magnussen a team player despite reason to be “pissed off”
Haas: Jeddah F1 “Unsportsmanlike” accusations are “complete bullshit”
The driving style secrets of F1's current stars
Hamilton needs talk with Wolff to prepare Ferrari F1 move
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
F1 Chinese GP: How to watch, ESPN Formula 1 TV times in USA
Porsche lodges appeal over da Costa's Misano Formula E disqualification
Ricky Taylor looking for redemption at Long Beach
How Senna’s early Pacific GP exit raised his Benetton suspicions
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The secrets of F1 turbocharging explained
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments