Facing a revolt from teams over exploding tyres at the British Grand Prix, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Monday gave tyre supplier Pirelli the green light to run tests to resolve the problem.
Ecclestone said he spoke to International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Jean Todt, who agreed for the tyre manufacturer to undertake unrestricted tests on a date yet to be arranged. One possibility would be replacing next month’s young drivers’ test at Silverstone for the tyre tests.
“(Pirelli) said they’d like to sort it out, but they don’t have a chance to do any testing because of these bloody silly restrictions we have,” Ecclestone said of the FIA ban on in-season testing.
“But I spoke to Jean Todt over the weekend and he has said, ‘Let them test.’ So he has allowed them to run two three-day tests between now and, well, when they want, to try and do something for next year, as well as this year.”
The move to allow testing comes a day after drivers, including race leader Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, nearly crashed after their tyres blew while racing at speeds upward of 180 mph (290 kph).
Tyres to be strenghthened
Pirelli is to strengthen its tyres for the German Grand Prix, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
The broadcaster said on its website that the Italian manufacturer would make the rear tyres’ internal belt with the high-strength synthetic fibre Kevlar instead of the usual steel to reduce temperatures and the risk of punctures.