The Italian Grand Prix marked Pirelli’s 500th race as Formula 1‘s tyre supplier; however, the race displayed more of the negative side of the Italian company’s time at the top.
Since coming into the sport in 2011, Pirelli has provided some much-needed stability after the chaos of the tyre war between Bridgestone and Michelin during the mid-2000s.
However, the stability has not come without its controversies, the 2013 British Grand Prix being the most notable. A total of six punctures occurred during the race on that particular afternoon at Silverstone – including for pole-sitter and home race hero Lewis Hamilton – as the tyres appeared susceptible to the sharper kerbs around the high-speed circuit.
But while such contentious incidents have tended to be the exception rather than the norm, Pirelli has struggled to produce compounds that improve the racing product.
Pirelli has a tough task to strike the balance that the drivers desire, but it doesn’t seem closer to discovering the ideal middle-ground based on the most recent Grand Prix.
So, while the Monza weekend was a celebration for Pirelli, the race itself highlighted the continued issues it has suffered during its tenure as the sport’s sole tyre supplier.
The difference a year makes
12 months ago, Charles Leclerc executed a strategic masterstroke to triumph on Ferrari’s home tarmac, managing his rubber to overcome the two-stopping McLaren drivers.
The strategy call was rightfully praised as Leclerc managed to lap consistently and hold off the charging McLarens to win by a handful of seconds in front of the adoring tifosi.
However, in 2025, at the same circuit in similar race conditions, the one stop was the one and only strategy option, the only variable being which tyres were used in which order.
In fact, four of the top six would spend the majority of the race on the Medium compound tyre, the second softest in Pirelli’s range, with McLaren waiting all the way until Laps 45 and 46 of the 53-lap race to pit.
It seems baffling that the circuit that produced such a tyre preserving masterclass just 12 months ago could be reduced to such a simple and ineffective race on a strategic front the very next year.
Unfortunately, it seems to be the trend with Pirelli in recent years, as tyres have become harder and, thus, more predictable, monotonous one-stop races have taken the edge away.
Lewis Hamilton claimed there was “something missing in Formula 1” when speaking to media including Motorsport Week regarding his 10th-place start at Monza.
“The tyres have felt good this weekend, but they’re ultimately too hard,” he addressed.
“We should be doing a two or three-stop here and refuelling! Maybe not refuelling, but two or three stops so you get more team interaction, and more strategy comes into play.”
It’s not only drivers who have had their frustrations with tyres, as many fans have also become annoyed at how predictable races have become in the modern era.
The problems only worsen when it gets wetter
However, the problems don’t end there. Whenever there has been rain to contend with on a race weekend, there have been repeated criticisms aimed towards Pirelli.
In the past, when conditions went beyond the capabilities of the Intermediates, the Wet tyre was there to be the next step in the trickiest and wettest track conditions.
But these days, it seems almost for display purposes only, very rarely touching the track at any speed higher than behind the Safety Car when conditions are treacherous.
Even when conditions have gone beyond the working range of the Intermediate tyre, drivers stick with it in very dangerous conditions because of the inabilities of the Wet tyre to provide the adequate grip required.
In fact, when the weather does deliver its worst, the race is put under red flag conditions until it is suitable for the Intermediate tyres again before restarting the race.
While other forms of racing can go on in almost any conditions, F1 is almost seen as scared of the rain, holding back and hiding in the pits until conditions improve rather than letting some of the best drivers in the world show the skills that make them the best. With that in mind, the tyres should elevate the sport, not hold it back from its best.
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