F1 commits to developing new low degradation tyres for 2025
F1 and Pirelli will work on new tyres for 2025 to cut degradation so drivers can push harder in stints. This follows driver complaints about excessive wear. Pirelli aims to balance more consistent driver performance with some strategy variance between teams.
Formula 1 and tyre supplier Pirelli have announced plans to investigate a new tyre concept for 2025, with the aim of reducing degradation while still enabling varied race strategies.
This comes in response to increased driver complaints about excessive tyre wear negatively impacting their ability to push flat out during a stint.
The move to 18-inch wheels and ground effect cars for 2022 led to greater aerodynamic downforce, which has subsequently altered airflow and increased tyre overheating.
Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola acknowledged that drivers want to reduce degradation to enable more consistent lap times, but warned there could be unintended consequences.
Balancing degradation vs strategy variance
Isola explained Pirelli's challenge in balancing sufficient degradation for multi-stop races against excess deterioration limiting driver performance.
"Without high degradation, there is no reason to target a two-stop race. But also, I believe that most of the action on track is due to tyre degradation and how you manage it," he stated.
However, with the 2024 tyre specifications already defined, the earliest opportunity for Pirelli to introduce a new concept would be 2025.
Isola confirmed Pirelli will commence analysis in the coming weeks to modify tyre wear characteristics without sacrificing on-track action.
A data-driven investigation
This will involve working with F1 teams to gather data, as Pirelli's simulations cannot fully account for the effects of running in turbulent air.
The goal is to engineer tyres inducing lower degradation that still enable some variance in team strategies.
Drivers demanding changes
Increased complaints from drivers including [insert verbatim quote from reference material] precipitated this tyre research.
Isola acknowledged the need to balance drivers' wishes for reduced wear with the sport's desire for diverging pit strategies producing on-track action.
Implications
If successful, the new 2025 tyres could enable drivers to sustain peak performance for longer stints without frequently slipping out of the tyre operating window.
This may reduce pitstop variance between teams, but allow drivers to race harder on track rather than conserve tyres.
With the technical regulations stable over the next few seasons, Pirelli's tyre evolution presents an opportunity to refine the racing spectacle.
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