Bernie Ecclestone has thrown his support behind drivers calls for tyres that can be pushed.

They want a tyre that "allows them to push and extract everything possible from these extraordinary race cars again, because that's what F1 is about, the pinnacle of motor racing which we all love." GPDA chairman Alex Wurz told BBC Sport earlier this week.

"The drivers want to underline very clearly that they would love Pirelli to produce a tyre which goes faster around corners as well as being safe," he added. "If we get sticky tyres, we will have happy drivers, and happy drivers means authentic and honest performance, pure message for the product and driving the cars to the maximum. That's what we want and what all the fans expect."

Whilst Ecclestone, in league with the FIA is understood to have been the driving force behind the philosophy that saw drivers 'managing' their tyres, the F1 supremo - no doubt brought back to reality by the last year's declining viewer numbers - now backs the drivers.

Ecclestone told BBC Sport that he agrees "a million per cent" that the sport should be about drivers being flat-out as opposed to being in conservation mode.

"I have already told Pirelli that," he added, revealing that the subject will be discussed next week at a meeting in Milan which he will attend, along with Jean todt and a number of team representatives and drivers.

"Whatever drivers want to turn up can turn up," said Ecclestone. "Whatever teams want to turn up can turn up. It will be the president of Pirelli who is there, not a messenger."

However, the F1 supremo made it clear he believes the teams must aid Pirelli in terms of tyre development if there is to be real progress.

"The bottom line is Pirelli supply the tyres in F1, they are the tyres we should use and the teams and drivers should work with Pirelli to perfect the tyres," he said.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 29/01/2016 15:09

"What an appalling old hypocrite!!!
The F1 tyre stupidity started as I recall with his idea for "grooved" tyres, and has rolled downhill ever since."

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2. Posted by Elgar, 28/01/2016 22:26

"The reporting is correct. Pirelli was asked to make the tires as they are now, needing race management. This should always be emphasized because people still complain about Pirelli's poor tires. Ecclestone calling for "real progress" is crap and he should be told this!"

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3. Posted by Celtictiger, 28/01/2016 21:45

"I think a simple solution is for the teams to test the new tyres parallel to the testing programs set out for their cars during the winter tests for the new season. No more chasing teams and begging for separate dates, using old spec cars, reserve drivers etc. Everything is developed at a certain level all at once using the latest spec of car and official drivers. "

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4. Posted by F One, 28/01/2016 20:02

"Bit of a huge U turn there Bernie?"

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Ecclestone backs drivers on tyres

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