Formula One teams will have stronger rear tyres at the German Grand Prix this weekend, and a new type from the Hungarian race at the end of this month, Pirelli said on Tuesday.
A series of high-speed tyre blowouts triggered safety fears and driver complaints at Silverstone last weekend.
A series of high-speed tyre blowouts triggered safety fears and driver complaints at Silverstone last weekend.
Six drivers - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, McLaren's Sergio Perez, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez - were all lucky to escape serious incidents after suffering dramatic failures during the race.
Hamilton, who led when his left-rear tyre exploded, said something needed 'to be done straight away' to solve the issue.
Hamilton, who led when his left-rear tyre exploded, said something needed 'to be done straight away' to solve the issue.
I'd like to re-emphasise the fact that the 2013 range of tyres, used in the correct way, is completely safe
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It appears Pirelli have listened to the criticism from all quarters and have been quick in their response.
The Italian company said in a statement that it would bring in rear tyres with inner belts made of Kevlar, a reinforced fibre, which had been made originally for teams to try out in Canada last month but were not used.
From the Hungary race onwards, new tyres that will combine the 2012 structure and 2013 compounds will be introduced after being tested at Silverstone in mid-July.
From the Hungary race onwards, new tyres that will combine the 2012 structure and 2013 compounds will be introduced after being tested at Silverstone in mid-July.
Pirelli also said teams contributed to the dramatic blowouts by mounting their tyres the wrong way around and using insufficient pressure.
Pirelli said teams had put tyres intended for the right side of the car on the left to gain a competitive advantage, had run them at lower pressures than recommended by the manufacturer and used extreme cambers.
"I'd like to re-emphasise the fact that the 2013 range of tyres, used in the correct way, is completely safe," said Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery.
"What happened at Silverstone though has led us to ask for full access to real-time tyre data to ensure the correct usage and development of tyres that have the sophistication we were asked to provide and extremely high performance that has lowered lap times by more than two seconds on average."
"What happened at Silverstone though has led us to ask for full access to real-time tyre data to ensure the correct usage and development of tyres that have the sophistication we were asked to provide and extremely high performance that has lowered lap times by more than two seconds on average."
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