Pirelli's Bahrain tyre compound switch not a kneejerk reaction
Pirelli's decision to switch its compound choice for the Bahrain Grand Prix was made several weeks ago and was not a reaction to what happened in China, AUTOSPORT has learned


Formula 1's tyre supplier has brought the medium and hard compound to this weekend's race at Sakhir, having originally intended to use the soft and hard compound for round four of the 2013 Formula 1 world championship.
However, having seen how its new more aggressive compounds reacted in the opening two grands prix, the Italian company elected to change its plans in the days after the Malaysian race.
It believed that with teams having experienced high degradation at Sepang, it would be better at the abrasive Bahrain circuit to use its most conservative choice.
The decision to use the medium instead of the soft was communicated to the teams before the Chinese Grand Prix - a race that fuelled intense debate about the impact tyres are having on F1 racing this year.
News of the change of compound choice was only made public earlier this week.
Pirelli is also awaiting a decision from the FIA and teams over its proposal for teams using rookies in free practice to get an extra set of tyres, as revealed by AUTOSPORT.
It is hoped the matter will be voted on over the Bahrain GP weekend.
This week's AUTOSPORT magazine features a hard-hitting column from Pirelli's Paul Hembery on his company's approach to F1 2013
Latest news
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further