Pirelli revolutionises 2013 F1 tyres

Pirelli begins the 2013 Formula One season with a completely revolutionised P Zero range for dry weather and the Cinturato range for wet weather. These new tyres have been developed according to the wishes of the teams and the rules from world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA. The most recent evolutions benefit the compounds, which have become softer, the structures, which are more flexible and the crown, which has been reinforced.

The objective of all these innovations, which work closely together, is to improve performance and increase thermal degradation, to ensure at least two pit stops per race and open up more strategic options for all the teams.

The sidewalls also look different, with colours that are more immediately striking and a brand new marking: orange, which comes in place of last year’s silver to denote the hardest compound.

“The 2013 season continues the philosophy adopted by Pirelli last year in evolving the original 2011 range of Formula One tyres,” commented Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery. “The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers and to ensure that all the teams start the new season on a level playing field when it comes to the tyres.

Through accumulating more information with each grand prix last year, the teams eventually fully understood the tyres, after a spectacular start with seven winners from the first seven races. The result at the end of the year was races with less competition and sometimes only one pit stop. This phenomenon was also observed in 2011, disappointing many fans and prompting some of the teams to ask us to continue developing our tyres further this year, in order to provide a fresh challenge with something different. Our 2013 range of tyres mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race.”