After Pirelli launched the C6 tyre in Method 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.
Through the C6’s final outing in Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the place many drivers most popular to avoid wasting the mediums for qualifying as a substitute of utilizing the softs – Verstappen mentioned the Italian provider may as effectively “depart that tyre at residence” sooner or later.
“I feel I ought to have a dialog with Pirelli sooner or later and inform them to only depart 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. You then’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 convey the C6 to every 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 concept of taking it to Singapore and Las Vegas was deserted as a result of the power is far increased 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 not likely an choice.”
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Crew, receives his Pirelli Pole Place Award from Mario Isola, Racing Supervisor, Pirelli Motorsport
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
For Singapore, that alternative is logical, as the recent and twisty avenue 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 mentioned. “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. Once we speak about graining, you injury the tyre particularly within the first part of utilization, when the tyre is warmed by the blankets, however nonetheless not in a completely heat situation.
“Then, the compound is a bit of bit fragile when it comes to mechanical resistance. It means that you may provoke the graining. And for those who 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 reside as much as Pirelli’s personal expectations? In any case, the tyre is now 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 wished to make use of the C6, another drivers wished 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 – most likely a few tenths.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / Method 1 / Getty Photographs
This contradicts Verstappen’s declare that the softest compound was truly slower: “No, it was nonetheless the quickest, however typically tougher to make use of for the drivers. It is a bit of bit extra peaky or unpredictable, so to extract the pure efficiency from the C6 just isn’t tremendous straightforward.”
Nonetheless, Isola admitted that Verstappen had some legitimate factors, with Pirelli seeking to make changes for 2026.
“We’re totally conscious of the truth that the C5 and C6 are very shut in the meanwhile. The goal for subsequent 12 months is to have these two compounds a bit extra spaced, so with a much bigger delta in an effort 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. We’ve 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 likely be totally different anyway, because the tyres will likely be totally different. However I perceive the feedback from Max. They don’t seem to be very totally different from what we’ve got analysed, so I do not disagree with Max.”
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