Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery says he doesn’t understand why teams can change their tyres under red flag conditions.
He also believes the regulation denied the fans of a thrilling three-way fight as their tyres would have hit the so called ‘cliff’.
“We don’t really understand the rule, and maybe we need to ask the teams why they think the should be allowed to change tyres,” he told Autosport.
“The race distance was still the race distance, it wasn’t extended. The cars had stopped and there had been a safety car anyway. I don’t really understand why they are allowed to change tyres, but maybe I am missing something.”
Hembery added that it was a ‘shame’ not to see how their different strategies would have played out in the final six laps of the race as all three drivers had taken different approaches; Button on a three-stopped, Alonso two and Vettel just one.
“I think it was a bit of a shame with the red flag of course, because if they hadn’t changed the tyres, then they would have had to fight to the end as they were all on different strategies, and the tyre wear and life was very different.
“It is such a shame we were not able to see the finale of the strategy game that had been played.”