Pirelli increases minimum F1 tyre pressures ahead of Turkish GP
Pirelli has made an overnight increase to its mandated minimum tyre pressures for the Turkish Grand Prix after studying data provided by the 10 Formula 1 teams on Friday
The regulations allow Pirelli to change its tyre prescriptions after the first day of running on a track, and a change at Istanbul Park is no surprise given the lack of familiarity with the venue, which has not been used by F1 since 2011.
The minimum pressures for dry, intermediate and wet tyres have all been upped by 1psi, for both fronts and rears. In the case of slicks the front tyres are now set at 24psi, and the rear tyres at 21psi.
A Pirelli spokesperson told Autosport: "We decided to increase the pressures a little just because from yesterday's telemetry we noticed quite high loads, even if the level of grip was low. If over the weekend the grip will improve, which is possible, the loads will also increase."
The change gives the teams yet another variable to contend with as they continue to dial their cars on the slippery circuit.
PLUS: Why Mercedes thinks it has started third-best in Turkey
Saturday dawned cold and overcast, with low track temperatures, while overnight showers may have washed away some of the rubber laid on Friday.
Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola said that drivers have been struggling to get their tyres into the optimum operating window.
"It's harder to warm up the tyre because you don't generate the heat, you don't put the energy and therefore you're not able to generate the grip," he said. "For sure it's difficult to warm up, because they are sliding a lot.
"It's not just the front tyre. You remember that in many circuits, we say the front tyre is particularly tricky because it's difficult to put energy on the front tyres, while in the rear, it's easier, you can use the traction to help the tyre to warm up. Here it looks like they are sliding on the four tyres. So they are not able to generate the grip."
The smooth new surface has made life particularly difficult.
"Usually when we have a new tarmac, you have a lot of aggressive grip, and this aggressive grip is closing the gap between compounds," said Isola.
"You have the aggressive properties of the compound that are matching the surface of the tarmac. So the bitumen and this kind of stuff are generating this aggressive grip, that is something that we are not able to see here.
"Probably because the level of grip is so poor they are not able to develop grip to put energy into the tyres, to warm the tyre, and to switch on the tyres."
Red Bull wants F1 2022 engine decision by end of November
F1 Turkish GP: Verstappen completes practice sweep in soaking wet FP3
FIA finalises 2026 Formula 1 power unit regulations
The FIA has finally approved the wording of the 2026 Formula 1 power unit regulations, which in turn paves the way for Porsche to enter in partnership with Red Bull.
F1 porpoising and roll hoop rules changes ratified by FIA
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has approved changes to the floor regulations in Formula 1 for 2023 to prevent the porpoising phenomenon seen this year.
Why Mercedes steered clear of an F1 car concept revamp despite early struggles
Mercedes opted against revamping its Formula 1 car concept despite its early struggles in 2022 as it felt following other designs would "only get you so far."
How one of F1’s greatest names was revived
With its eponymous Formula 1 team falling into obscurity in the 90s, the Brabham name looked relegated to the manufacturers' history books. But after a long legal battle, the family reclaimed its rights and in 2018 launched Brabham Automotive. David Brabham discusses what came next for the iconic brand
How a bad car creates the ultimate engineering challenge
While creating a car that is woefully off the pace is a nightmare scenario for any team, it inadvertently generates the test any engineering department would relish: to turn it into a winner. As Mercedes takes on that challenge in Formula 1 this season, McLaren’s former head of vehicle engineering reveals how the team pulled of the feat in 2009 with Lewis Hamilton
The under-fire F1 driver fighting for his future
Personable, articulate and devoid of the usual racing driver airs and graces, Nicholas Latifi is the last Formula 1 driver you’d expect to receive death threats, but such was the toxic legacy of his part in last year’s explosive season finale. And now, as ALEX KALINAUCKAS explains, he faces a battle to keep his place on the F1 grid…
The strange tyre travails faced by F1’s past heroes
Modern grand prix drivers like to think the tyres they work with are unusually difficult and temperamental. But, says MAURICE HAMILTON, their predecessors faced many of the same challenges – and some even stranger…
The returning fan car revolution that could suit F1
Gordon Murray's Brabham BT46B 'fan car' was Formula 1 engineering at perhaps its most outlandish. Now fan technology has been successfully utilised on the McMurtry Speirling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, could it be adopted by grand prix racing once again?
Hamilton's first experience of turning silver into gold
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has been lumbered with a duff car before the 2022 Mercedes. Back in 2009, McLaren’s alchemists transformed the disastrous MP4-24 into a winning car with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel. And now it’s happening again at his current team, but can the rate of progress be matched this year?
Why few could blame Leclerc for following the example of Hamilton’s exit bombshell
OPINION: Ferrari's numerous strategy blunders, as well as some of his own mistakes, have cost Charles Leclerc dearly in the 2022 Formula 1 title battle in the first half of the season. Though he is locked into a deal with Ferrari, few could blame Leclerc if he ultimately wanted to look elsewhere - just as Lewis Hamilton did with McLaren 10 years prior
The other McLaren exile hoping to follow Perez's path to a top F1 seat
After being ditched by McLaren earlier in his F1 career Sergio Perez fought his way back into a seat with a leading team. BEN EDWARDS thinks the same could be happening to another member of the current grid
How studying Schumacher helped make Coulthard a McLaren F1 mainstay
Winner of 13 grands prix including Monaco and survivor of a life-changing plane crash, David Coulthard could be forgiven for having eased into a quiet retirement – but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, in fact he’s busier than ever, running an award-winning media company and championing diversity in motor racing. Not bad for someone who, by his own admission, wasn’t quite the fastest driver of his generation…