FIA approves new F1 rear tyre for British Grand Prix onwards

After Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen suffered high-speed tyre blowouts at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Pirelli introduced a “more robust” rear tyre construction that was tested during practice at the Austrian Grand Prix. 

Pirelli’s new rear tyres will officially debut at next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Silverstone will also host F1’s first-ever sprint qualifying race.

A 100km sprint race will take place next Saturday to determine the grid for Sunday’s race.

Qualifying has been moved to Friday evening, while there will only be two practice sessions - one on Friday morning before qualifying, and the second on Saturday morning, before sprint qualifying.

The FIA also confirmed that they have made “various updates to the 2021 Sporting Regulations that relate to the implementation of events that include sprint qualifying were approved by the World Council.”

These changes include outlining the new format, changes to the parc ferme rules and the points system for the weekend.

The winner of sprint qualifying will be awarded three points, two for second and one for third.

Speaking after the Austrian Grand Prix, Michael Masi confirmed that the FIA would be open to changing the rules if certain anomalies crop up during the first trial run of the new format at Silverstone.

“We’ve been very fortunate in the way it’s been an absolutely collaborative approach since the start of the year,” Masi said. “We’ve had numerous meetings involving all of the team’s sporting directors, ourselves at the FIA and F1 in developing, refining, leaving things for a week, letting everyone have another re-read and finding little bits and pieces. 

“Everyone has a completely open mind that there may be things that crop up that no-one has thought of, any of us. But also an open mind that after the first event, let’s happily review internally what worked, what didn’t work, are there areas that need to be refined. Quite honestly, with everyone involved, it’s something new for all of us, particularly in an F1 capacity. 

“The regulations have traditionally, as all of you now, have been structured in a very specific format and way around a grand prix taking place without a sprint qualifying area happening. Everyone is quite open and have said as late as this morning, that we all just need to work together and see what pops up, anything that we haven’t considered, as much as we have read them inside out.”