F1 tyres in 2021 will see a loss in the downforce, Pirelli welcomes the move amidst the threat to the car which was seen during the British GP.
Before the start of the season in May, Formula 1’s governing body decreed that the downforce will be reduced from 2021 onwards and Mario Isola, Pirelli’s F1 tyre’s chief has welcomed the move.
“We have cars with the highest level of downforce we have ever seen,” he explained. “Having another step in the direction of reducing the level of downforce is for sure beneficial because with more downforce – and also considering [the construction will not have changed] for three years.
“The only reaction from our side is to increase the pressure, then we have side effects like overheating, blistering, for example, or additional degradation. And if we have a change in regulations that are helping that, it’s more than welcome,” he added.
The reduction in downforce for 2021 will be achieved by the reduction in the outer floor area. One concern is that less downforce could mean a higher level of slip as cars won’t be able to corner at such high speeds next season, but Isola dismissed this when asked after the Spanish Grand Prix.
“It’s a matter of balancing the car and making a proper set-up. In the past, we had less downforce and we didn’t have any issues. It’s just that the teams have to work with a different car,” he concluded.
Huge pressure on F1 tyres- conclusion of Pirelli investigation
During the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz faced dramatic punctures on their tyres. Whereas, Daniil Kvyat lost control of his car on a turn.
This prompted an investigation by Pirelli under pressure on what caused these unprecedented events. The Italian company discovered that a long stint on the same rubber and the extreme forces generated by the current F1 cars were determined to be behind the issues.
