Pirelli’s plans to change tyre pressure a disaster: Hamilton

MONZA — Lewis Hamilton has said that Pirelli’s plans to improve safety by increasing tyre pressures will be “a disaster”, just as Bernie Ecclestone issued a thinly veiled rebuke to the drivers for criticising the beleaguered tyre manufacturer.

Though Sebastian Vettel has offered his support to Pirelli and markedly softened his tone after his fierce criticism of its tyres in Belgium, Hamilton spoke out against changes planned for this weekend’s high-speed Italian Grand Prix. Pirelli is planning to increase tyre pressures to alleviate the issues seen in Spa-Francorchamps, something Hamilton strongly opposed.

“In terms of putting the pressures up, I don’t think it’s the right thing,” said the world champion. “But I don’t think any of us have tried 5psi more because they are not designed to have 5psi more, they work in a range.

“So we will be moving out of the optimum range of the tyre, we’ll be using a different part of the tyre, which means more wear, less grip. It’s going to be a disaster.”

Vettel had accused Pirelli of threatening his life after a spectacular blowout in the Belgian Grand Prix, but here he was much more conciliatory. “We’ve been looking very closely into the issue we had,” he said.

“They have been very, very professional, have handled it with extreme care, very seriously, things are going the right way, and our target now is to improve the situation and make progress.”

Formula One management followed his remarks with a rare statement that absolved Pirelli of blame for the terrifying tyre explosion in Spa-Francorchamps.

Sent under Ecclestone’s direction, the release instead implied that Ferrari and Vettel were at fault.

The statement read: “Within the constraints of safety considerations, which are always paramount, Formula One encourages Pirelli to provide tyre compounds with performance limitations because tyre degradation contributes to the challenge and entertainment of a Formula One race.

“Pirelli provides strong guidance to competitors about any performance limitations of the tyres. Competitors should heed Pirelli’s expert advice when setting their race strategy and tactics, and if they do not it is at their own risk. We are entirely satisfied that Pirelli was not at fault for any tyre-related incidents during the Belgian Grand Prix.”

F1’s chief executive is a strong supporter of the Italian manufacturer, in part because of the millions it spends on trackside advertising. It seems almost certain that Pirelli will win the contract to supply tyres from 2017 onwards instead of Michelin.

Most of the drivers, including Nico Rosberg, who also suffered a blowout in Spa, backed Pirelli but said more needed to be done. Jenson Button confirmed he and other drivers had been in constant dialogue with Pirelli, Ecclestone, and motorsport’s governing body FIA.

However, Button conceded that if the issue was cuts in the tyre, caused by debris or kerbs — as Pirelli said on Thursday in its full explanation of Vettel’s blowout — he could not understand why changing tyre pressure would make any difference.

Romain Grosjean, who was following Vettel two laps from the end of the race when the German’s tyre exploded, was far more strident in his criticism. “I don’t think it’s a good explanation,” he said. “I don’t think anyone is happy with the fact that it’s a cut. Seb didn’t go off track, there are kerbs and you can use them.”

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH