Pirelli expects two or three stops in Melbourne
As they approach the first Grand Prix of the season, during which teams will face one of the greatest challenges of modern Formula 1, Pirelli reassures by announcing a conservative strategy during the race.
Paul Hembery, the head of Pirelli Motorsport, announces on the tire manufacturer’s website, two or three pit stops per driver on Sunday during the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
After being criticized at the beginning of the 2013 season, Pirelli tires in 2014 could prove to be the most stable benchmark for teams caught in the whirlwind of regulatory changes.
Paul Hembery assuring that « [Faced with…] the most radical regulatory changes in modern Formula 1 […] we had to create a completely different range of tires, presenting a new dynamic for the 2014 cars. The tests we conducted this winter showed how difficult the challenge was to meet. But these regulations are the same for everyone. We worked throughout last year and all winter to present an entirely new range that should suit this new generation of cars, with new types of compounds and new constructions for less degradation in order to maintain the level of performance. »
As a result, he adds an important clarification: « We still expect to see two to three pit stops per driver in Melbourne, although it is difficult to make exact predictions before we can see the free practice sessions. The first race of the season is always unpredictable and this will be more the case than ever in 2014. »
It is therefore not to be expected that there will be a revolution in pit stops unless rain joins the party, which currently seems quite likely.
