Plans to give F1 rookies an extra set of tyres are abandoned

Force India had tabled an idea for teams to be given a more durable set of rubber that they could run in free practice if they ran a rookie driver.

The idea did not get the unanimous support it needed though, with there being further complications over the exact definition of a rookie driver because some outfits have experienced testers who have never actually raced in F1.

With F1 tyre supplier Pirelli still keen to deliver the extra rubber in a bid to encourage more running in first free practice, all teams will now be allowed to run the more durable prototype compound on Friday.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director, said: "As permitted by the current regulations, we'll be supplying an extra set of prototype hard compound tyres for free practice, which will hopefully ensure that all the cars run throughout these sessions.

"It's something we wanted to do to encourage all the teams to run as much as possible right from the start, especially with the rookie drivers, to give fans the spectacle they deserve to see."

The Spanish GP will also give teams the first opportunity to try out the revised hard compound tyre, which has been made closer to last year's specification in a bid to help teams.

Hembery believes that the change will open up strategy options for teams - which should make the racing better.

"This new tyre gives us a wider working temperature window - although it delivers a little bit less in terms of pure performance - but it should allow the teams to envisage an even wider variety of race strategies than before in combination with the other compounds, which remain unchanged this year," he said.

"This is a decision that we've come to having looked at the data from the first four races, with the aim of further improving the spectacle of Formula 1."