The FIA has given Formula 1’s official tyre supplier Pirelli permission to introduce a new tyre specification on safety grounds.
The new tyre specification will be made available for all teams to test at the Spanish Grand Prix next month. Pirelli intends to introduce the revised tyres at the British Grand Prix in July.
Under F1’s rules, the range of compounds to be used during a season must be determined by December 15th of the preceding year. However it can be changed with the FIA’s approval, which was given following discussions of the Technical Advisory Committee and Sporting Advisory Committee.
Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola said the change was necessary due to the increased performance of this year’s cars, which is putting the rubber under greater strain.
“We’ve seen how much more performance the 2023 cars have compared to last year throughout the opening races of this season, and that is thanks to the extraordinary pace of development shown by all 10 of the teams,” said Isola. “In Miami, for example, the pole time was nearly two seconds faster than last year, but the same sort of progress has been seen during races as well.
“Pirelli’s simulation work has always been aimed at not only supplying a product that hits the performance targets specified by stakeholders, but also anticipating any potential problems and reacting to them quickly.”
Isola said Pirelli is bringing forwards the introduction of some developments it had made for the tyres it plans to race next year.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“The new specification contains materials that we have already developed for 2024, which will make the tyres more resistant without affecting any of the other technical parameters or their behaviour on track,” he explained. “To allow all the teams to test the new construction on a level playing field, Pirelli will supply two extra tyre sets per car to be used during FP1 and FP2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.”
Lap time change at the first five races of 2023
On average, lap times are 1.01 seconds quicker than last year. Changes to some circuits will have influenced this: The Miami International Autodrome was resurfaced and its chicane was eased, while an extra DRS zone was added at Albert Park in Melbourne. However DRS zones were shortened at three tracks – Bahrain, Melbourne and Miami – and one corner was tightened at Jeddah.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
