Reigning
Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel
had accolades for the performance of
Pirelli's tires after winning the circuit's season-
opening race in Melbourne, Australia.
Vettel, who started from the pole position after driving the
fastest-ever lap of the event, notes that “we have to make
some compliments to
Pirelli.”
The company is in its first season of a three-year agreement
to supply Formula One’s tires.
The competitors took just two to three pit stops per car and
tabulated a total race time that was three minutes quicker
than last year’s, “underlining the performance of the P Zero
tires,” according to Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsports
director.
“At the end of it we have three drivers from different teams
standing on the podium, all of whom performed
outstandingly,” Hembery says.
“I think that the same can be said of our tires too: We had
no issues whatsoever and the degradation was less than
expected, meaning that most drivers – including the top
three – chose a two-stop strategy, as we had predicted,” he
notes. “We also saw a wide spread of strategies ranging from
one stops to three, giving the teams the opportunity to
think creatively about their race management.”
Hembery goes on to point out that “we’re not about to rest
on our laurels, though. We’re already thinking ahead now to
the next race in Malaysia, which will provide us with a new
and different challenge.”
For more information, visit www.us.pirelli.com.
