Pirelli aiming for two-stop races

Pirelli is keen to hit its target of two-stop Formula 1 races as often as it can this season, after conceding that the four-stop Turkish Grand Prix was probably too much

The event at Istanbul witnessed the highest number of pitstops in F1 history as most drivers were forced to change tyres four times over the course of the race.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said in Spain that he would have preferred there to have been one less stop at that race - suggesting his ideal target is a repeat of the situation seen in China, where teams opted for either two or three stops.

"Shanghai is where I would like to be," explained Hembery. "That is the input we are giving our team. We have sat back and said if we could do Shanghai again that would be good.

"Turkey wasn't too bad as everyone beforehand was going, 'oh my God, it is a tough, tough race.' But it was a good race. People enjoyed it and if there being one too many pitstops was the worst of the problems, then I am quite happy."

Hembery concedes it is hard for Pirelli to get the balance right for ensuring two-stop races each weekend because it is limited to just four compound tyres for the season.

"We only have four compounds to play with and 20 circuits for the season - with different circuits and different temperature profiles.

"Ideally you want 10-12 compounds to get the target right each time, so we are compromised each time as to what we can do."

He added: "But we are new to sport and learning along the way. We cannot become experts on every circuit overnight, and we need to go to every circuit to get the data.

"We are allowed four weeks of testing in five-degrees centigrade pre-season with the teams, and that is it. The sport doesn't help us from that point of view - to test and understand where we are at, but the tyres are reliable."

Pirelli is due to conduct another private test in its modified Toyota car with Lucas di Grassi at Jerez next month.