Formula 1 drivers urge Pirelli to bring softer tyres to grands prix

Pirelli has introduced harder compounds for this season, to allow for the massive increase in engine torque produced by the introduction of new V6 hybrid turbo engines into F1.

But the levels of aerodynamic grip have also been substantially reduced, meaning many cars are struggling to warm up their tyres properly.

Pirelli brought its two softest compounds to the recent Monaco Grand Prix, but Ferrari's Fernando Alonso said they were still soft enough for the current cars.

"They are too hard, it's no secret," Alonso said during the event.

"When [Pirelli] bring normal tyres they get good grip within two or three laps but when they bring harder tyres it takes eight or nine laps [to get them to work properly].

"We were very slow; we saw using the thermal image in FP3 that the tyres were very cold and it's impossible to get temperature [in them].

"But this is what we have, it's the same for everybody so we need to make them work better than the others."

Force India driver Sergio Perez has already criticised Pirelli for what he describes as the "embarrassing" size of the gap between GP2 and F1 laptimes this season, and he reiterated his desire to drive on softer compounds.

"They can maybe go a step softer into the compounds because if you analyse it, in many races we have done this year we could have brought the softer compounds," Perez said.

"It will be more enjoyable for the driver and it will give more options and more changing positions on the strategy."

LACK OF TESTING HURTS

Pirelli's motorsport boss Paul Hembery said the Italian manufacturer was open to introducing softer tyres, but reckoned a lack of testing has held it back.

"You've got to bear in mind we're still very limited on testing, so it's quite easy to do a wishlist," Hembery said.

"We don't have any wet testing planned at all this year, so there's limitations.

"We did the last wet tyre, which is four seconds a lap quicker at Barcelona, on one and a half test sessions, [so] what we're doing within the constraints is quite substantial.

"It's a case of moving slowly on a lot of these items simply because you need to know if you've achieved what you set out to achieve."

Hembery also said drivers' views on the tyres had been inconsistent from season to season.

"Last year they wanted harder tyres, this year they want softer tyres - it changes day to day," he added.

"Mercedes are happy with them..."