Red Bull and Mercedes push for return to 2012 Pirelli tyres after Silverstone failures
Red Bull and Mercedes have called for Formula One to revert to the 2012 Pirelli tyre specification, citing safety concerns after a series of high-speed blowouts at the British Grand Prix.
Red Bull and Mercedes have demanded that Pirelli reintroduce its 2012 Formula One tyre specification, following a British Grand Prix marred by multiple high-speed tyre failures. Both teams argue that the current 2013 tyres are not only compromising safety but also penalising the fastest cars in the field.
The call for action came after four drivers suffered rear left tyre explosions during the Silverstone race, sending debris across the track at speeds over 200kph. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the situation was unacceptable and that Pirelli must act immediately to prevent further incidents. He pointed to last year’s tyres as a proven solution, stating they did not experience such failures.
Horner has been critical of the 2013 Pirelli tyres throughout the season, arguing they degrade too quickly and force teams to compromise car performance. After Silverstone, he said the most logical step would be to revert to the 2012 construction, which he described as harder and longer-lasting. He stressed that safety must take priority over any competitive considerations.
Safety and fairness concerns
Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey linked the failures to what he called short-sightedness from rival teams, who earlier in the season blocked Pirelli’s proposal to introduce a revised tyre construction in Canada. Newey said that opposition was driven by fears that a change would favour some teams over others, but the result was a series of dangerous failures in Britain.
Mercedes shares Red Bull’s concerns. Both teams argue that the 2013 tyres, rather than rewarding high downforce and efficient chassis design, have inverted the competitive order by increasing wear on the fastest cars. Sebastian Vettel said that the better the car, the worse the tyre degradation, leaving top teams at a disadvantage.
There are also claims of unfair advantage for Lotus, whose 2010 Renault R30 has been used as Pirelli’s exclusive tyre testing car. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko suggested that the current Pirelli tyres are optimised for the characteristics of that car, and that the modern Lotus shares much of its design DNA.
Immediate action demanded
With the next race at the Nürburgring only a week after Silverstone, teams have called for urgent intervention. Horner proposed converting the upcoming Silverstone young driver test into a full tyre test for current drivers, arguing this would provide the best feedback on any new or revised construction. Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda supported the idea of a united driver response, suggesting that drivers should write to the FIA and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to demand a solution before the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Pirelli has yet to confirm whether it will revert to the 2012 specification or introduce another solution, but pressure from leading teams and drivers is mounting. With safety now at the centre of the debate, the governing bodies face a decision that could shape the remainder of the 2013 season.
For further background on this dispute, seeRed Bull Mercedes Want 2012 Pirelli Tyres Return
