Pirelli hopes F1 tyre changes will not affect competitive order
Pirelli is hopeful that the changes being made to its tyres from the Canadian Grand Prix will not affect the competitive order in Formula 1
After fresh analysis of its products following a four-stop Spanish GP at the weekend, Pirelli has elected to make tweaks to ensure that it returns to its target of two-stop races.
The revisions to the structure of the tyre, as well as possible changes to the compounds, should ensure that tyres are better able to cope with the demands of the 2013 cars.
Although the move is likely to help teams that have struggled with the tyres so far - especially Red Bull and Mercedes - Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery says that the revisions are unlikely to lead to a dramatic shaking up of the order.
"There have been concerns from some of the teams that the changes will favour one team or another, but we don't think that will be the case," Hembery told AUTOSPORT.
"These changes are being made for Pirelli, not for anyone else. We need to get the balance right.
"We didn't want to over-react, because by doing that we could then be helping certain teams."
When asked if there was a danger that making the tyres more durable would allow a team like Red Bull to dominate, Hembery said: "We would hope not. But of course we always face that risk."
Hembery made it clear that Pirelli's changes were not the result of lobbying from Red Bull, after its owner Dietrich Mateschitz this week hit out at F1 by saying it had "nothing to do with racing anymore."
"People will say it is pressure from Red Bull, but there has not been excessive pressure from them," said Hembery.
"In fairness to Christian Horner [team principal], a lot more has been said in the media this week than what they have told me."
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