F1 News: Pirelli Confirms Success In Cold Tyre Testing As Tyre Blankets Thrown To The Side

Pirelli has found success with cold tyres, with the rubber warming up to operating temperatures in just four corners during testing.

Big changes are in the air for Formula 1 in 2024. Pirelli, the high-performance tyre manufacturer, has a game-changing plan on the horizon to match the wants of Formula 1. It's all about ditching the tyre blankets, with an emphasis on sustainability and cost-cutting.

Following this radical change, F1 teams can anticipate considerable savings. The elimination of tyre preheating can drop freight costs by around 600,000 euros every racing season. Additionally, every three years, they can save half a million on new tyre blankets. The cherry on top? Zero power requirement, making the move as green as it is cost-effective. Take that, cost cap. 

Pirelli has set their sights on designing tyres with broader working windows, something we're desperate for this year. High-performance tyres under intense strain require meticulous engineering, not a trivial task at all, so in preparation, Pirelli started work in 2022 on the construction of this new rubber.

Simone Berra, Pirelli's Chief Engineer, provided some insight into the testing process. 

“With the three tracks, we have covered asphalt temperatures from 20 to 45 degrees,” Berra explained, regarding the test drives in Paul Ricard, Jerez, and Bahrain.

The first tests took place under standard conditions. The goal was to understand how the new tyre construction would respond to the old rubber mixtures. As they moved forward, the heating temperature in the blankets was progressively reduced. Things looked good in the tests, with the tyres reaching operating temperature after just the fourth corner without any heating, with the cold first lap being only one second slower than a pre-heated tyre lap. 

This sounds all well and good, but these changes won't be an easy ride for the drivers. They must adjust their warm-up strategies, and strategists will have to rethink their approach as well. With tire blankets no longer in the equation, the popular 'undercut' strategy may become a relic of the past.

As we approach 2024, it's clear that Pirelli is set to shake up the sport. A combination of sustainability and cost-saving measures proves that this tyre revolution is more than just hot air.