Formula 1 teams would be 'reckless' with free tyre choice - Pirelli

In a bid to spice up the F1 show, a proposal has been aired whereby teams would themselves pick two of the four tyre compounds currently available per race.

At present Pirelli decides which tyres are best suited for each circuit based on a range of data, such as the track surface and temperature ranges.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT, Hembery expressed severe concerns over the potential consequences should teams be given freedom to take their pick.

"If you start opening up choices this is what will happen: firstly, the top teams will centralise around the same choices because they use the same ideas and data we would be using," said Hembery

"Then there would be some people that would want to risk a little more, and then there would be some people who would want to be a little reckless.

"That means they would be taking a product into a situation that would create a safety problem, and if there is a safety problem then we cannot accept that risk, so it is impossible.

"That is even before we get into the logistical problems and extreme cost it would involve to do such a thing.

"It's more important to look at 'why would you want to do something like that?' and 'what are you trying to solve?' rather than suggesting a change without analysing what you are trying to achieve."

Hembery is open to logical suggestions, adding: "If there is a need to achieve something then we are happy to talk, but at the moment nobody has actually come to us with a proposal.

"If and when they do, as ever, we will always try and find a solution."

The criticism Pirelli has received during its time as F1's control supplier leaves Hembery wary of making drastic changes.

The firm was asked to produce more degradable rubber after a lack of action under predecessor Bridgestone. This led to more pitstops but also some chaotic scenes and tyre blow-outs.

"Maybe the teams need to look to other things rather than to us," said Hembery.

"We did our bit and were chastised for it by a number of people.

"It would take all the teams to come to a very clear understanding as to how they need to manage that in the future for us to do what we did in the past.

"It would need everybody to buy into that, but they didn't last time, so I don't see why they would in the future.

"It's going to be more in line with what we are doing now, which is still delivering what we were asked - two to three stops per race."