F1 teams vote against Pirelli's 2020-spec tyres
Formula 1 will continue to use Pirelli’s 2019 tyres for the 2020 season after plans to run its new development compounds were shelved following a team vote.
A brief statement by the FIA on Wednesday confirmed all 10 teams had voted unanimously to keep the 2019 tyres, rather than switch to the 2020-specification Pirelli had been developing throughout the year.
The 2020 prototype spec had been designed to reduce degradation and provide a wider working range of temperature and lower overheating while running in the dirty air produced by the car ahead.
Formula 1 will continue to use Pirelli’s 2019 tyres for the 2020 season after plans to run its new development compounds were shelved following a team vote.
A brief statement by the FIA on Wednesday confirmed all 10 teams had voted unanimously to keep the 2019 tyres, rather than switch to the 2020-specification Pirelli had been developing throughout the year.
The 2020 prototype spec had been designed to reduce degradation and provide a wider working range of temperature and lower overheating while running in the dirty air produced by the car ahead.
But Pirelli’s new tyres had faced mixed reviews following an initial test outing during opening practice for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in November, before a two-day test was conducted at Yas Marina following the 2019 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Italian tyre manufacturer had hoped the Abu Dhabi test would offer teams a “more representative” outlook on the tyres, however many drivers remained unimpressed.
“The FIA would like to thank both Pirelli and all the teams for their work and collaboration to improve the tyres for the 2020 season and beyond,” an FIA statement read.
“In any case, the lessons learnt will be invaluable for the further improvement of the tyres in the future.”
2020 will be the last season in which F1 uses the current 13-inch wheels, before switching to new 18-inch rims from 2021.
Williams driver George Russell completed two days of running on the new 18-inch wheels for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.
Our #Fit4F1 2021 18-inch tyre development test at @ymcofficial finished with 118 laps covered today by @GeorgeRussell63 at the wheel for @MercedesAMGF1 #F1testing @F1 pic.twitter.com/0oCIm9wNvr
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) December 9, 2019
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