Pirelli’s Paul Hembery has hinted at the possibility of introducing a fifth compound in 2013.
The Italian company currently supplies four slick compounds – super soft, soft, medium and hard – but only two are available at each grand prix and both must be used.
Hembery believes a fifth compound, therefore giving them greater choice when it comes to deciding which two to use on a race weekend, would allow them greater flexibility.
“We want to make some changes, probably structurally to the tyre and possibly to the compounds, maybe a qualifying tyre,” Hembery told FM103.3.
“Maybe even ask if we can have a few more compounds so that we can maybe adapt our show to each circuit a little bit better. Four compounds for 20 circuits is a tough challenge.”
Pirelli’s current test driver Jaime Alguersuari agrees, and suggests maybe three tyres could be allocated to a race weekend with the third being optional.
“It could be (optional),” he said. “Nothing has yet been confirmed because we still have so many things to test. We have already done one test and we have some good conclusions, but there are a lot of things to follow, a lot of things we must continue to work on.
“We will make our opinions for next year. And for me it’s great because it gives me the chance to know a product that no else knows. For me, that’s fantastic.”
