Under pressure Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli has been surprised by the threat of a German Grand Prix boycott by drivers but expects no problems with its new rubbers and is planning to stay in the sport.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association announced on Thursday that its members would withdraw from this weekend's German Grand Prix if the five tyre blow-outs which marred Sunday's British race occured again and endangered their lives.
After the intervention of the governing International Automobile Federation, Pirelli has brought upgraded rear tyres to the Nurburgring with an inner belt made of the synthetic fibre Kevlar rather than steel.
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “It was a little bit surprising having just had a meeting and going through it with them. At the end of the day we have to make sure we don't have any issues like we had at Silverstone. That's the bottom line.”
Pirelli hit the headlines in May for a “secret” test with Mercedes, which led to the German team being banned for the next session.
The firm then risked angering drivers further after Silverstone by partly blaming them for the blowouts because of the way teams were managing the tyres, specifically deliberating inverting the rear ones for performance reasons.
“I have to say last weekend was our responsibility.”
With tensions running high, Hembery was at pains to point out that Pirelli was also at fault.
“We allowed the teams to invert the tyres when we shouldn't have done,” he said on Friday. “With the cars going much quicker this year that creates different loads. With the inverted tyres you create a weakness point, and that was the issue. There were secondary issues, which have been mentioned, but I don't want to take away from the fact it was our responsibility.”
Pirelli rode to Formula One's rescue in 2011 after previous supplier Bridgestone pulled out of the sport and Hembery said the company would stick around this year as it looks to extend the contract into 2014.
Asked about next season, he added: “Yes, sure.”
Engine rules will change for next year with the introduction of a new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine with energy recovery systems instead of the current V8.
“We need to get it sorted, best way to react is do it properly and get things sorted and get things back on line. We are a professional company. We are very passionate about what we do and very good at what we do,” he said.
“You don't walk away in difficult times, that's the time to work harder and make sure you do a better job.” - Reuters