Pirelli to Bring Hard Tires in Bahrain

Formula 1's new tire supplier Pirelli seems to have already made up its mind when it comes to the compounds they will bring to the first races of the 2011 season. According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the Italian company has really listened to the drivers' complaints these past couple of weeks and will go for the hard compound tires for the first 4 races of the new season.

Shortly after the first group test in Valencia finished, several drivers complained about the high level of tire degradation presented by the Pirelli rubber. The same thing happened in Jerez last week, which made the Italians choose the safest combination of tire compounds for the races that will open up the 2011 campaign.

Being that the first 4 rounds of 2011 will take place outside Europe and therefore enjoy higher temperatures than normal, Pirelli will bring on the hard tires as their primary option. And since the one-step gap in tire compounds will be maintained for the upcoming season, the second tire to be made available by Pirelli will be the soft one.

According to recent reports, the medium tire provided by Pirelli – the one between hard and soft – has proven to lose a full second of pace after one lap, after which it maintains its consistency for the upcoming 10 laps or so. However, in recent tests in Spain, no driver has managed to do more than 15 laps on this type of compound.

“A fresh set of tires no longer feels like a fresh set of tires,” argued Formula 1 veteran Rubens Barrichello following the test at Jerez, which he concluded with the best time of the pack. “In the fast corners the rear suddenly loses grip without notice if you overdo it. Suddenly you lose the rear. This could cause problems for inexperienced drivers.”