Formula 1 team principals have suggested Pirelli return to the tyres used during the 2012 season for the German Grand Prix this weekend in a bid to ensure a repeat of Silvestone’s tyres failures doesn’t occur.
An emergency meeting of the FIA, Pirelli and the Sporting Working Group (SWG) has been called for Wednesday in Paris, but with the next race just days away, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes the only solution is to use the tried and test tyres from last season.
“In 2012 we were not having this problem,” he said. “Therefore, if that is a known, established, durable specification, you would have thought that is the easiest thing to do.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who is keen to see more durable tyres, backed Whitmarsh’s view on the matter.
“The most logical thing would be to go back to the tyres that worked well for them previously. The tyres they had last year did not have these failures.”
Meanwhile Lotus boss Eric Boullier, who hasn’t previously supported the idea, has now come round following Sunday’s events.
“Going back to the Kevlar belt from last year would be one solution,” he explained.
“I don’t know what they have in stock and how quick they can produce tyres. That is a question for Pirelli.”
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