Vergne welcomes Pirelli’s decision to bring new tires
During the press conference organized by the Toro Rosso team this Thursday at the Nürburgring, Jean-Eric Vergne naturally discussed the tire problems at Silverstone, but especially Pirelli's response to this issue.
Jean-Eric Vergne is among the unfortunate victims of the British Grand Prix last weekend. The French driver did not hesitate to criticize the situation, calling on Pirelli to take action to ensure the safety of the 22 drivers. The Italian manufacturer quickly provided a positive response to the paddock’s complaints and will supply rear tires with a Kevlar structure.
« We start the weekend with tires that offer better safety, » responds Jean-Eric Vergne. « We are almost convinced that we won’t have any problems this weekend. From that point of view, we are much more relaxed and we approach the weekend as if everything is going to go well. I think Pirelli has done a good job from a safety perspective with the new tires. They will bring more to Budapest, and we will also test them at Silverstone. I think they have done everything to correct their flaws and prevent them from happening again. »
If Pirelli was able to react so quickly, it’s because these new tires have already been tested in Canada during Friday’s free practice sessions, and their introduction into races depended, until now, on the teams’ willingness, with some fearing it would benefit their rivals. But according to Vergne, this new structure should not lead to a revolution in this season’s hierarchy. “I have already tried the new tires (in Canada, editor’s note) and these are not tires that will change the game. As long as they improve safety and there’s no longer a risk of explosions, that’s what matters. The rubber doesn’t change; it’s the structure that’s different. The tire will heat up a little less, but it’s not going to revolutionize things,” Vergne explained to French journalists this Thursday.
From our special correspondent at the Nürburgring.
