Due to Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen’s flat tires, Pirelli is testing a “more robust” rear tire construction in training at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
Before finishing second at the Red Bull Ring this weekend, Bottas welcomed the Pirelli move for safety reasons.
“Of course, that’s always a bit of a challenge,” said Bottas. “We have learned a lot in the last eight or nine races about these new tires for this season in terms of rear suspension. It’s just another challenge, especially when it changes the vehicle balance, which is still unknown.
“Also, all of these estimates are going to be new for now in terms of how far the tires will go in the race, but if it’s for safety it’s a good thing. We don’t want to see any flat tires or breakdowns, so if that helps, then I think we’ll take it. “
On the subject of matching items
Each driver is given two sets of test tires during training and Bottas wants to avoid speculation about the effects of the change until he tries them out himself.
“The honest answer is, I don’t know, we haven’t tried the tires yet,” explained Bottas. “It is completely unknown to us how our car will behave, what the grip level will be with the new rear tires.
On the subject of matching items
“We’ll try that tomorrow. So all I would say now would be guesswork and speculation. I think we’ll find out more tomorrow.”
Teammate Lewis Hamilton doubts the change in design will have a significant impact on the pecking order.
“I won’t know until I drive the car,” added Hamilton. “When Pirelli puts a new tire on the market, there are usually no big differences, so as far as I know it is an adjustment to the reliability. I don’t really think that much is going to change, but we could start tomorrow and it might affect some more than others who knows. “
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