Given that Pirelli have returned to the sport after a lengthly absence, the FIA decided to give them a hand with developing their tires for the 2011 season of Formula 1. Since in-season testing is banned by the ruling body, this was the only alternative the two parties could have come up with in order to both go ahead with tire testing throughout the 2011 campaign – without affecting the race programme of each GP – and keep the in-season testing ban going.
“At certain events, one additional specification of dry weather tire may be made available to all teams for evaluation purposes,” confirmed the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in their latest press release.
This way, Pirelli will benefit from data provided by the F1 teams throughout the season and will improve their compounds gradually in 2011. The “experimental tire” session will not take place at each 2011 event however, but only the ones decided upon by Pirelli (based on the circuit's characteristics). The first event where the F1 teams will get the extra set of tires will be in Malaysia, the second round of the new season.
“Teams will be informed about such an additional specification at least one week before the start of the relevant event. Two sets of these tires will be allocated to each driver for use during P1 and P2, and any such tires must be returned to the tyre supplier before the start of P3,” further explained the FIA body.
“One additional set of 'prime' specification tires may be made available to all drivers. Teams will be informed about such an additional set at least one week before the start of the relevant event. In this instance, the additional set will be available for use during P1 and P2. One set of 'prime' tires must then be returned to the tyre supplier after P1, and two further sets of 'prime' and one set of 'option' specification tires returned before the start of P3.”
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