Pirelli says it could be left with no option but to quit Formula 1 at the end of the season if it isn’t given the opportunity to test its 2014 tyres ahead of the season.
The Italian manufacturer has come in for much criticism following several tyre failures during the current season and it’s keen to avoid a repeat of the problems.
With huge changes in 2014, from engines to more powerful ERS, the tyres will need to withstand greater torque demands and therefore need to be far stronger than the current design.
Without the ability to test them, Pirelli can’t safely supply F1 with tyres according to motorsport boss Paul Hembery.
“We’d like some common sense, that’s what we’d like,” he said. “We have to do some testing if we can, otherwise we won’t be able to provide the tyres next year.”
He understands that getting hold of a 2014 car is near impossible, but testing with a 2013 car – which isn’t allowed under the regulations following the Mercedes ‘private’ test – would be suitable.
“We have to do some testing. We don’t need a lot because we are changing some of the concepts. The structure we are not so worried about but in terms of the compounds there are a few conceptual changes we have to trial out, ideally on a 2014 car as soon as possible. But all the teams are struggling to get ready for Jerez, so that’s not going to happen,” he added.
“You can get relative levels [of data from a 2013 chassis], but you won’t get absolute levels,” he explained. “Taking the conceptual work, you’ve got a choice of learning nothing if you don’t run or something if you do run. That’s the only way I can say it. Clearly, we would love to have a 2014 car in December, that’s what we really need. But with the timing of the winter tests in Bahrain and Jerez … if we had a month and a half between Bahrain and the first race we could do it that way. But we don’t have that luxury, unfortunately.”
