Electric blankets yes, electric blankets no? The decision is expected at the end of July, when the teams will have to decide on a proposal from Pirelli for constructions and compounds for 2024 capable of operating without the use of electric blankets (today the values prescribed by the regulation allow up to 2 hours of heating at a temperature of 70° C).
The skepticism of the riders is understandable and, after the test conducted in Barcelona, it is Russell and Leclerc have pointed to similar fears and limitations the ban on the use of electric blankets.
“In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the test on the right circuit and in the right conditions. Just think that we rode in Barcelona, on a rather aggressive asphalt and with a temperature of around 40°C on the track, fully rubbered from the race weekend .
The tires were very inaccurate just off the pitlane but around turn 5 they had a decent level of grip“Russell’s analysis.
Fears with low asphalt temperatures
Except to point out the scenario that most worries the pilots: “If I compare this test with the one carried out at the beginning of the year, in Jerez and with 10°C temperature on the track, it was extremely difficult to get out of the pits. To be honest, I don’t think we are, as a sport, in a position to bring these tires into the race. I would be very concerned about all the mechanics in the pits during a pit stop. I would be very concerned about the out lap in cold race conditions. I have no doubt that there will be accidents.”
It could be argued against Russell’s consideration that rarely, over the course of a season, slick tires have to operate in such low asphalt temperature conditions. It’s an exceptional situation to find a dry asphalt at less than 20°C. The closest scenario is that of switching from intermediate wet tires to slicks.
Considerations that find support in Leclerc: “I haven’t tried these tires in low temperatures, the big question is there. It’s hard to say if it’s a direction I’m happy with, I’d like to try these tires in different conditions and see if they’re a solution capable of racing in all conditions. In Barcelona it was a positive test, in the conditions we had.”
Tires that can be used by adapting the driving style
The concept of “raceable”, usable product, is taken up by Mario Isola, interviewed by The Race. Pirelli’s work towards eliminating electric blankets is part of the objective of a more “sustainable” Formula 1 – a very relative concept for a global category such as the Circus -. Trying to reduce consumption and environmental impact in field operations is a path on which Liberty Media has placed the emphasis, with a view to 2030, when it aims to declare F1 a sport with net zero CO2 emissions.
“These are tires you can race with, the first sector could be a pitfall but other than that, I’m ok”Isola explains. “It’s clear that the riders have to think about a different scenario from today, without tyrewarmers, and they have to face the out-lap in a different way.
In cold conditions it could be more tricky to bring the tires up to temperature, it’s just a matter of tackling the first part of the lap carefully.”
