After Pirelli launched the C6 tyre in Formulation 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.
Throughout the C6’s final outing in Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the place many drivers most well-liked to save lots of the mediums for qualifying as a substitute of utilizing the softs – Verstappen stated the Italian provider would possibly as effectively “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 only 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 try this [later]. In any case, it is not pressing as a result of there is no such thing as a plan to carry the C6 to another race this yr.”
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 vitality is way increased in Singapore, and in Las Vegas the temperature can also be a component to contemplate. You possibly can generate graining on the C6, so it was probably not an possibility.”
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Staff, receives his Pirelli Pole Place Award from Mario Isola, Racing Supervisor, Pirelli Motorsport
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
For Singapore, that selection is logical, as the recent and twisty road circuit could be powerful on Pirelli’s softest compound. However why would Las Vegas be an issue? Colder situations would usually require a softer compound to change them on simpler.
“That’s true,” Isola stated. “However the softer the compound, the decrease the mechanical resistance as effectively. And which means it is simpler to generate graining, particularly in chilly situations. After we speak about 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 totally heat situation.
“Then, the compound is a little bit bit fragile when it comes to mechanical resistance. It means which you could provoke the graining. And should you provoke the graining, then clearly this might have an effect on the efficiency. When you have a C5 that’s working effectively 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 stay as much as Pirelli’s personal expectations? In spite of everything, 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 a giant step – in all probability a few tenths.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 / Getty Photographs
This contradicts Verstappen’s declare that the softest compound was really slower: “No, it was nonetheless the quickest, however typically 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 shouldn’t be 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 for the time being. The goal for subsequent yr is to have these two compounds a bit extra spaced, so with a much bigger delta with a view to have a correct place for the C6,” Isola defined.
“It was the primary time that we had been utilizing the C6 this yr, 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 yr, they must be completely different.
“The purpose is that subsequent yr all of the compounds shall be completely different anyway, because the tyres shall be completely different. However I perceive the feedback from Max. They aren’t very completely different from what we’ve got analysed, so I do not disagree with Max.”
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