After Pirelli launched the C6 tyre in System 1 this season, Max Verstappen and a few of his colleagues weren't too impressed with the compound, which has moved the Italian producer to be open to debate its shortcomings.
In the course of the C6's final outing in Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the place many drivers most popular to avoid wasting the mediums for qualifying as an alternative of utilizing the softs – Verstappen mentioned the Italian provider may as properly “go away that tyre at residence” sooner or later.
“I believe I ought to have a dialog with Pirelli sooner or later and inform them to simply go away that tyre at residence, as a result of it makes the entire weekend very difficult. You don't have any correct reference on the mediums till qualifying. It doesn't make any sense.”
“Look, if the tyre doesn't work right here, it didn't work in Monaco, it didn't work in Imola, and in Montreal it didn't work both. Then you definately're actually higher off leaving it at residence.”
These remarks, unsurprisingly, reached Pirelli and its motorsport boss Mario Isola: “I've seen the feedback. I did not have the chance to speak to Max but, however I'll do this [later]. In any case, it is not pressing as a result of there isn't a plan to carry the C6 to some other race this 12 months.”
The softest compound was initially deliberate for Singapore and Las Vegas, however Pirelli modified its thoughts. That call, Isola defined, had been made lengthy earlier than Verstappen's feedback.
“The unique thought of taking it to Singapore and Las Vegas was deserted as a result of the power is far larger in Singapore, and in Las Vegas the temperature can be a component to think about. You may generate graining on the C6, so it was probably not an choice.”
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Group, receives his Pirelli Pole Place Award from Mario Isola, Racing Supervisor, Pirelli Motorsport
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
For Singapore, that alternative is logical, as the new and twisty road circuit can be robust on Pirelli's softest compound. However why would Las Vegas be an issue? Colder situations would usually require a softer compound to modify them on simpler.
“That's true,” Isola mentioned. “However the softer the compound, the decrease the mechanical resistance as properly. And meaning it is simpler to generate graining, particularly in chilly situations. Once we discuss graining, you harm the tyre particularly within the first section of utilization, when the tyre is warmed by the blankets, however nonetheless not in a completely heat situation.
“Then, the compound is a little bit bit fragile by way of mechanical resistance. It means which you could provoke the graining. And if you happen to provoke the graining, then clearly this might have an effect on the efficiency. If in case you have a C5 that's working properly with out graining or with simply low abrasion, then it is higher to remain on C3, C4 and C5.”
Isola agrees with most elements of Verstappen's criticism
So, did the C6 reside as much as Pirelli's personal expectations? In any case, the tyre is not being taken to tracks it was initially deliberate for, and criticism from drivers adopted after race weekends during which it was used.
“If we need to discover one thing optimistic within the tyre allocation for Baku and another races, then it has created some uncertainty over qualifying,” Isola replied.
“Some drivers needed to make use of the C6, another drivers needed to make use of the C5. What we discovered is that the efficiency of the C6 was nonetheless higher than the C5, however not an enormous step – in all probability a few tenths.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / System 1 / Getty Pictures
This contradicts Verstappen's declare that the softest compound was truly slower: “No, it was nonetheless the quickest, however generally tougher to make use of for the drivers. It is a little bit bit extra peaky or unpredictable, so to extract the pure efficiency from the C6 is just not tremendous straightforward.”
Nonetheless, Isola admitted that Verstappen had some legitimate factors, with Pirelli trying to make changes for 2026.
“We're totally conscious of the truth that the C5 and C6 are very shut in the intervening time. The goal for subsequent 12 months is to have these two compounds a bit extra spaced, so with an even bigger delta with the intention to have a correct place for the C6,” Isola defined.
“It was the primary time that we have been utilizing the C6 this 12 months, that we determined to introduce a compound that's softer than the C5. Now we have discovered from it, and we all know that when we're going to homologate the compounds for subsequent 12 months, they need to be totally different.
“The purpose is that subsequent 12 months all of the compounds will probably be totally different anyway, because the tyres will probably be totally different. However I perceive the feedback from Max. They don't seem to be very totally different from what we have now analysed, so I do not disagree with Max.”
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