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Pirelli Set to Revise F1 Wet Weather Tyres for Next Season Following Driver Outcry

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Ifan Apriyana
Ifan Apriyana
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Pirelli Set to Revise F1 Wet Weather Tyres for Next Season Following Driver Outcry
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Credit: Spacesuit Media/Craig Evans

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli is reportedly close to finalising a brand-new specification of wet-weather tyres for next season, directly addressing a wave of serious complaints voiced by drivers following last weekend's dramatic action.

The premier motorsport championship experienced its first genuinely wet race weekend of the year at Interlagos, where both qualifying and Sunday's grand prix were heavily impacted by relentless rainfall. Saturday's running took place under such extreme conditions that the full wet tyres --which have rarely been utilized in recent years-- suddenly became the preferred choice for the treacherous asphalt.

Sunday's race proved to be an ongoing strategic puzzle as sudden downpours forced drivers to start on intermediate tyres, transition to slicks, and then revert back to inters in the closing stages when the rain made a dramatic return.

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Despite the race running smoothly without major incidents and marking the first Grand Prix this year not interrupted by a Virtual or Full Safety Car, drivers remained deeply unsatisfied with how the wet rubber behaved on track.

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Williams driver Carlos Sainz openly called for immediate collaborative development with Pirelli to deliver crucial improvements for future championships. According to the Spaniard, the current performance baseline of both wet compounds simply falls short.

"The level of the wet and the inter is not good enough and we need to work with Pirelli on finding a better tyre," Sainz stated firmly. He further explained that in mixed conditions, the intermediate remains critically weak at the rear axle, noting that by the time the rear tyres finally warm up, the front tyres have already lost their operating window.

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson echoed similar frustrations, pointing out the immense difficulty of maintaining proper tyre temperatures during the sluggish laps to the starting grid amid cold ambient conditions.

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"The biggest problem was the temperature was much cooler," Lawson explained. "So even though there was less water on the laps of the grid, the cars were nearly undriveable because the temperatures just kept dropping continuously."

F1 wet tyres at Interlagos
F1 drivers navigating through spray and low temperatures on wet tyres.

With only three rounds remaining in the grueling Formula 1 calendar, including the upcoming high-stakes street circuit battle under the lights, Pirelli's upcoming rubber upgrades will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping future championship strategies and racing safety.

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