Tyre Testing : The FIA-Pirelli standoff

Sebastian Vettel won his fourth consecutive title to get into the record books one more time but there was only one other thing that could match his consistency to make headlines in 2013. Yes you guessed it right – it was the tyres. But there were doubts whether the mid-season tyre change helped swing the title in Vettel’s favor?

Pirelli are trying hard to work on the tyres for 2014 season after facing criticism on the tyre compounds used during the 2013 season.

The answer to the question could be yes and no. Yes, because Vettel won eight of nine races after the tyre fiasco(and had managed only three wins out of seven before it) which quite evidently explains that the tyre change helped Red-Bull gain a certain advantage over other teams. On the flip side, Red-Bull had Adrian Newey, the technical magician and engineering genius behind Red-Bull’s success, who helped them turn things around with changes to the car setup during the summer break partnered with Vettel’s unrelenting hunger to succeed at the top.

While the debate might soon be put to rest as teams get busy to prepare for the 2014 season, tyres will continue to be one of the most important talking points in the days to come. The reason being that Formula One is headed for a drastic change in the engine design and technology and tyres need to be synchronized to make it a complete package for the teams to compete with each other. However, testing remains a critical factor that would result in the best tyres compounds being used for the new season.

But has the FIA done enough to give Pirelli a fair chance with testing to bring good tyres? Does Pirelli have the authority to get the best possible compounds to avoid a fiasco like the 2013 British GP? If Pirelli are to be believed not enough has been done to help them prepare for the 2014 season amidst some of the biggest changes in the sport. Pirelli’s argument even after the tyre fiasco was that they were following instructions from FIA of supplying tyres which degrade quickly artificially helping in increased overtaking and making pit-stops a tactical element during the race.

Pirelli had threatened to quit Formula under no support for testing but now hopes to conduct prototype testing at the Brazilian GP.

Pirelli has had a rough ride in Formula One since the tyre debacle. With a lot of criticism from teams as well as drivers and no contract in place for 2014, they were on a sticky ground. Though they have been confirmed for 2014, the Italian marque has a challenging road ahead. They are wary of teams not co-operating to provide data that would help them to produce the best tyres for the new machinery.

Among other problems, testing also remains a point of contention. Pirelli are bent upon conducting few tests in December and January before the final two rounds of testing in Bahrain and Jerez to help them prepare right combination of compound and construction. Pirelli are also of the view that to prepare for the (pre-season) tests in Bahrain, testing needs to be done with the 2013 cars. However, the FIA has restricted testing until next year and its rules forbid testing with 2013 cars. The only positive step in the direction as per Paul Hembrey, Pirelli’s motorsport director, is that Pirelli are most likely to test the prototype 2014-specification tyres in the Friday free practice session at the season finale in Brazil.

The FIA despite voicing concerns of safety after the tyre fiasco hasn’t done much to support tyre testing for the 2014 season.

The FIA though seems to be busy enough in the governing body’s elections slated in the first week of December. While it was reactive to the whole tyre fiasco voicing their concerns and commitment towards safety of drivers and forcing Pirelli to change the tyres, the surprising part is the FIA’s blind eye to having a clear and defined plan laid out for the tyre testing heading into the new season. Being the governing body it clearly needs to take a pro-active approach to the tyre situation as the sport gets ready to one of the most dramatic changes in its history.