Red Bull has approached Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli and is believed to have asked them to redesign the 2013 tyres or revert back to the 2012-spec compounds during a private meeting in Malaysia.
The chamionship winning outfit struggled in Australia during the race after Sebastian Vettel, despite qualifying on pole, finished third. Kimi Raikkonen won the race from seventh on a two-stop strategy thanks to the E21’s efficient tyre-wear.
Pirelli has made it clear that it won’t change its tyres unless a majority of teams vote on the matter.
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier supports Pirelli and says he will fight their corner should Red Bull continue to put pressure on the sole supplier.
“Of course they [Red Bull] will speak,” he told Autosport. “But we are ready to fight back.
“The situation is not going to get political because one team, Red Bull, is not happy with the tyres though. The tyres are the same for everybody.”
Lotus’s rivals have also complained that the Enstone outfit has an unfair advantage after it agreed to sell one of its old cars, the R30 from the 2010 season, to Pirelli for testing purposes.
“It’s obvious that the Pirelli tyres are designed for this type of car,” Red Bull’s Helmut Marko is quoted as saying. “The Lotus of today has the same DNA.”
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