Q: You return to Formula One after what will be a 20-year break come next season. Why did you decide to return now?
Paul Hembery – Pirelli Motorsport Director: “The opportunity presented itself for us to come back to Formula One under changed commercial realities and to reinforce Pirelli’s reputation as supplier to the most prestigious car brands in the world by being represented at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. This was a chance that we didn’t want to turn down, and we’re delighted now to be here.”
Q: What changes have had to be made at Pirelli’s facilities in Italy to cope with the increased demand for racing tyres?
PH: “The tyres are actually made at our facility near Istanbul in Turkey. It’s a very modern facility that only opened three years ago and it can easily be modified for the demands of Formula One production. Operationally, we’ve made this work without increasing our budgets by re-allocating some of our resources.”
Q: What sort of input have the teams/FOTA had into the design of the tyres?
PH: “With the agreement being announced well after the teams had begun development of their 2011 cars, the design of the tyres for next year will follow the current FIA regulations. We have worked with the teams to define the primary characteristics of the product but of course we have our design and material philosophies, and in the end it will be a Pirelli tyre.”
Q: What will Pirelli be doing to help the F1 spectacle on race weekends?
PH: “One of our intentions is to help improve the show in any way that we can. There’s various ways in which we can do that, and it’s something that we’re looking at during our current test campaign. With most 2011 cars finalised now, I don’t think that the teams would appreciate any radical differences in tyre characteristics, but for the future anything is possible.”
Q: It’s been quoted that Pirelli will take a conservative approach to their tyre compounds, will this be the case?
PH: “We’re working to certain set parameters for next year, and as a new supplier it’s true that you want to start from a solid base. But depending on what the teams want and the experience we gain during the season, we can take the development of the tyres in any direction required.”
Q: Bridgestone have been quite strict on their allocations over the weekend, often forcing drivers to save sets for the race, what strategy will Pirelli adopt and how many tyres/compounds will be available?
PH: “The current tyre regulations for next year don’t change, so we have to work with them as requested. As is currently the case we will offer four slick compounds for the season next year and 11 sets per race weekend, plus rain tyres for wet weather.”
Q: As well as F1, Pirelli will also supply GP2 from next year. Will the tyres for both series be of a similar design?
PH: “There will be several points in common; in fact you can fit F1 tyres to a GP2 car and vice versa. The GP2 Series is all about preparing drivers for Formula One, so supplying tyres with similar characteristics is an important and valuable part of that preparation that we are able to bring.”we are able to bring.”
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