George Russell says he is frustrated by the Pirelli tires
The Mercedes driver recently raised the alarm about the quality of Pirelli tires in Formula 1. After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Russell expressed his frustration regarding the variability of tire performances. He highlighted significant speed differences and impacts on race results.
Since 2011, Pirelli has been the exclusive tire supplier for Formula 1, with a contract extended last year until 2027 and an option for one additional year. However, for the past few seasons, several drivers, including George Russell, have repeatedly expressed the problems encountered with these same tires.
At the arrival of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend, the Mercedes driver, who nevertheless achieved an unexpected third place, did not hesitate to express his dissatisfaction with the tires of the Italian company. « During the first half of the race, we were 1.5 seconds off the pace. In the last 20 laps, I was one second faster than Oscar and Charles and three tenths faster than Max, Checo, and Carlos. » he analyzed.
Significant performance declines.
The Briton laments too much variation in tire performance despite identical race conditions: « It’s the same track, the same driver, the same car. We just switched from a yellow tire to a white tire. Honestly, it’s quite frustrating that it changes so much and it’s not just Mercedes, it’s every team and every driver.
Russell pursued by emphasizing the impact of this phenomenon and the fact that no one seems to be able to explain it: « One session you are fast, the next you are no longer and there is only one thing that changes. It’s black magic, I think even the people who manufacture the tires do not understand them. »
Russell wishes for discussions to take place.
Frustrated by the current situation, the 26-year-old driver suggests a total overhaul of the tires in Formula 1: “I think we probably all need to have serious conversations again about what’s going on, because we have 2,000 people working tirelessly to deliver the fastest car, and for 20 laps of the race, we had a car capable of fighting for victory. For the next 20 laps, we had a car that probably shouldn’t have been in the points, and the only difference is the tires. It’s really not enough.”
Russell’s critics highlight a common problem in Formula 1: the importance of constantly improving tires to ensure their consistency and reliability, essential for performance and safety in races. It therefore seems crucial for Pirelli to find solutions to meet the requirements of teams and drivers.
