Pirelli investigating deformation of F1 tyres in Spa qualifying
Pirelli has launched an investigation to identify what is causing the strange deformation of its Formula 1 tyres witnessed in Belgian Grand Prix qualifying and whether pre-race action is required
Slow motion footage of F1 cars exiting the final chicane at Spa-Francorchamps showed standing waves spreading across the tread of rear tyres, something that has not been seen before.
The extra vibrations these waves caused triggered the damage to Williams driver Lance Stroll's rear wing that cost him a second run in Q1.
Pirelli's F1 racing manager Mario Isola said he had never seen an F1 tyre behave in such a way and his company was collaborating with teams to investigate.
"We are looking at what they can be or which is the type of stress on the tyre," he told Autosport.
"At the moment I don't have a lot of information because we are working together with the teams to better understand this effect.
"It seems that we have this at the exit of the Bus Stop, and exit of Turn 1 [La Source], so slow speed corners in traction.
"We have to better understand it. It could be an effect of the grip with the torque.
"Obviously the grip this year is much higher and the tyre is wider, so it could be a deformation of the contact patch and the torque that generates these vibrations."
When asked if there could be enough concern to advise teams to make changes to either set-up or treatment before the race, Isola said: "This is why we are interested to better understand why we generate this vibration and what are the possible consequences.
"What we have asked the teams is can we work together a bit to better understand which is the dimension of this vibration, the extension in time and the construction.
"And when we have something more, probably tomorrow morning, then we can take a decision
"So far it is difficult to say if we are obliged to take any action."
Williams technical chief officer Paddy Lowe said he had not seen tyres deform in such a way before, but was at a loss to explain what was going on.
"We have often seen before a kind of standing wave in the sidewall, but in this case, we're seeing a standing wave on the tread with sort of a flat threepenny bit shape to it," he said.
"I've never seen that before. It's a very high amount of energy in that."
Taking Pouhon flat 'confused' Fernando Alonso's McLaren-Honda
Mercedes open to Hamilton/Bottas team orders rethink
The anatomy of the last Williams F1 world title winner
It’s 25 years since a Williams F1 car last won a world championship. STUART CODLING examines the FW19
The Whiting traits emerging from F1’s new race control
After the opening three rounds of Formula 1’s new race direction of Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas being in charge, key qualities from Charlie Whiting’s era have surfaced and met by various reactions from teams and drivers. But as the series looks to move on from the controversial end to the 2021 season, it marks the start that was needed
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
How the Australian GP gave F1 a much needed tonic
OPINION: Formula 1 had been shrouded in various forms of controversy for almost six months when it arrived in Melbourne, but the party atmosphere and engaging yet inoffensive events at the Australian Grand Prix provided the series with middle of the road normality that had been missing for too long
The Verstappen path Leclerc seems to be following in F1 2022
OPINION: Charles Leclerc insists he has not made a step up in his Formula 1 performances from 2021 into his early domination of 2022. But he does admit to there being one key difference compared to his past at Ferrari, which comes with striking similarity to the life of his closest on-track rival so far this year
Australian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Formula 1's long-awaited return to Melbourne delivered an intriguing race on a track rather different than the one teams had last raced at in 2019. Among several standout performances, two drivers earned maximum scores in Autosport's driver ratings
How decisions Ferrari aced and Red Bull regretted led to Leclerc’s Melbourne masterclass
A second retirement in three races for Max Verstappen in the Australian Grand Prix leaves the Red Bull ace already facing an uphill battle to get himself back into the title fight. But there were several factors which contributed to the team's disappointing weekend - and they were ones Ferrari got right as Charles Leclerc romped to victory
The background considerations behind Berger's Aston boss criticism
OPINION: Does Gerhard Berger’s recent slating of new Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack suggest an ambition unfulfilled? STUART CODLING thinks that may be the case