Pirelli look likely to heed several calls for their tyres to be less durable than Bridgestone’s in the hope they can spice-up the action as seen in Canada last year.
The tyres used during the 2010 season could often last the entire race distance, with only the mandatory regulation forcing drivers’ to use both compounds during a race. This often resulted in predictable racing without the need for pit-wall strategy.
Pirelli’s director of Formula One, Paul Hembery, is confident the Italian manufacturer’s tyres will be less enduring, forcing drivers to stop twice.
“We hope to have at least two tyre changes in every race,” he said during a two-day tyre test in Abu Dhabi.
“We want to try to create more of a show. We will try to play our part to create as much interest in the sport as possible.”
Though he said it was too early to guarantee two-stop races at circuits such as Valencia and Monaco, where they are unable to test.
“We have to be realistic [though]. This is our first year and some of the tracks we can’t possibly test at, like the street circuits, or the new circuits.”
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