Pirelli has insisted that its 2014 tyres are safe despite Nico Rosberg suffering a 320km/h blowout during testing in Bahrain on Thursday.
Mercedes were forced to curtail their running after the German span on the main straight at top speed when his tyre failed.
In response to the issue, Pirelli says it won’t be using the compound which was at fault as they’re just a prototype which were “completely innovative in terms of structure and compound” used purely to aid development of the most “suitable solutions for the next season.”
Pirelli confirmed the incident took place and also confirmed the tyre in question had never undergone track testing before.
“This morning Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes was fitted with one of these prototypes, a tyre which had only been tested in the laboratory and which will not be proposed again.
“Thus, the safety of the tyres which will be supplied for the next Championship is not in question.
“The accident which happened to Rosberg’s car is being investigated and the findings will be communicated to the FIA and the teams.”
