Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery admits to frustration with teams as criticism continues.

Once again, Pirelli finds itself in the headlines. The headline grabbing images of Sergio Perez' tyre delaminating once again sends out a signal, even though the cause of the damaging flat spot went largely unseen. Coupled to that there has been criticism from the drivers, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber - whose elimination from the race had nothing to do with tyres - once again giving the Italian manufacturer the sort of publicity it doesn't need, or warrant.

Having uncharacteristically hit back at Alonso's comments, for which he subsequently apologised, Hembery has now turned his attention to the teams, arguing that self interest must be put aside and that they must start to cooperate with Pirelli.

Already frustrated by the attitude of the teams this was compounded at the weekend when a planned test with McLaren ahead of the Grand Prix in Austin was cancelled after the FIA revealed that there had been objections from rival teams.

Up until a couple of years ago tyre tests were the norm, all the teams regularly attending three-day sessions at tracks, often ahead of races, as various new compounds were tried out - along with new components for the cars.

In the interests of rising costs these were scrapped - the money being spent elsewhere - while the tyre supplier, by now Pirelli, was meant to carry out its own tests with an old car and a driver not in a regular race seat.

As if that didn't tie Pirelli's hands, the sport's powers that be insisted on the manufacturer providing tyres that deliberately degraded. The Italian manufacturer was on a hiding to nothing.

"We're running around in a 2010 car, developing tyres for the 2014 car, which nobody really knows what it's going to look like," Hembery told reporters in Korea. "Yet every time we even ask to test with a 2011 car we come up against opposition.

"Going forward, to do what we need to do, we need to have the ability to test and help everybody, drivers and teams," he continued. "Whilst nobody wants to think they're going to get an advantage in testing, you can't carry on going round in circles and decide to do nothing. Something has to change."

For 2014, despite the fact that that the costs of the new formula will already have a huge impact on teams, especially those already struggling financially, in-season testing is introduced, along with the traditional pre-season tests - even if the venue is not as traditional. Nonetheless, in readiness for the new season, which sees one of the biggest changes to the sport's rules in living memory, Hembery is concerned that this isn't enough.

Ideally he would like the company to have its own end of season test at Interlagos - the track surface being ideal for such purposes - or Bahrain before the pre-season tests... but with one proviso.

"Ideally at the end of the season we'd like to see some use of these (2013) cars because they're the best and the quickest we've got at the moment," he admitted. "It would make sense to use them because for the majority of the teams they'll be of little relevance anyway.

"We're still talking about trying to sort testing out and we're in October," he added, the frustration obvious. "I just hope the engine manufacturers have been able to do their work, and as they desire. Otherwise the conversations we'll be having might be with them next year, I hope not, for their sake."

Bahrain, which will host two tests in February, has been chosen because perfect weather is guaranteed, which, of course, beggars the question, when will Pirelli get to try its inters and full wets.

"There are things, as a sport, we need to improve on, which is something that is starting to be recognised," says Hembery "A number of the team principals have said we need to do something differently, and we obviously agree with that.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Darvi, 08/10/2013 7:32

"@ Petes FOM (of which I am no fan) is responsible for the commercial exploitation of Formula 1, it is the FIA that sets the technical regulations and which manages the Technical Working Group which is comprised of FIA and team members. The FIA made the call on tyres. "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by petes, 08/10/2013 5:04

"@ Darvi. I believe it was FOM who did the deal for dodgy tyres to spice things up with Pirelli and FIA in their usual anonymous and dozy way bought it. Even towards seasons end 2012 when tyre changes were announced it was Pirelli attributed with all the noise; nary a word from FIA - they were content to doze on and let it happen. Then we go to to Eureka moment when all and sundry realised the implications of the 2014 formula and tyres. Probably fair to drag the constructors in on this issue; let them cop some of the blame for lack of forethought, except when realisation hits they're 'all too advanced with design' to re-work.
Like you, I want to see lights out to flag-fall, flat out racing"

Rating: Negative (-1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by KARTRACE, 08/10/2013 0:59

"Something doesn't make sense in this whole tire saga. How teams could decide on some issues which are out of their authority ? Surely that what Hembery is frustrated about is in the domain of FIA. On the other hand if they are put in loose/loose situation and no one is looking for the solution why Pirelli is fighting to stay in F1 in the first place. They have won so far such a bad name that it would take years before it,s forgotten. I see no commercial or marketing point for them in this whole charade. Also Hembery doesn't appear to be person capable of handling those issues adequately apart from throwing stones in the glass house by attacking anyone who had say about tires, instead of using that to put some extra pressure on FIA, BE or whoever."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by Darvi, 07/10/2013 14:36

"@Jonno - you're being a bit harsh on Pirelli. It is the hapless FIA that demanded tyres that would introduce uncertainty into the racing and Pirelli simply complied with their instruction. Further, the teams and the FIA are massively restricting tyre testing, making their job even worse.

I'm sure that you and I are not alone in wanting to see lights to flag flat out racing - but the FIA has legislated for these regulations which, I would agree, are shambolic. Worse still is the move to turbo engines for next year which will mean huge cost and disruption for everyone and which will, yet again, work against the smaller teams and increase the divide between the better funded teams and the rest.

The FIA appears to have no clear strategy for the development of Formula 1 and if I were one of the two surviving "new" teams, I would feel rather cheated by the FIA's actions."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Jonno, 07/10/2013 12:50

"What is up with Pirelli and Paul Hembery in particular? We've had 2 years of joking tyres and Pirelli have been getting stick over them from the start. Yet, they've still signed up to supply tyres to F1 for another 5 years. Did he really expect the critism to stop, when we continue to see so many races affected by tyres.

I'm a spectator. I want to see racing - full stop. I don't want to see drivers touring round to preserve tyres because there are none available if the current set fail. I don't want to see drivers failing to overtake because the tyres wear out within minutes if they're pushed beyond their low limits.

I'm getting bored with F1 and annoyed with Pirelli for this state of affairs.
"

Rating: Negative (-1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Hembery critical of teams

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page