Amid revelations of cunning systems being used by top F1 teams to meddle with tyre pressures, the FIA has changed the system of checking pressures before practice and qualifying qualifying sessions as well as the race.
Pirelli have cited safety reasons for running high tyre pressures this year, triggering innovative ways to run lower than demanded pressures. The system use by Mercedes was revealed earlier this week – report here>>>
In the past the FIA monitored pressures when the tyres were already mounted on the respective cars, but from the Austrian Grand Prix onwards tyres will be checked before they are fitted.
This, the FIA believes, will prevent teams employing tricks to heat up the tyres which in turn results in higher pressures until the air within the tyre cools and the pressures reduced, thus the objective of the entire exercise for teams who fiddle in this manner.
The FIA released the following statement:
“FIA informs that with immediate effect during practice sessions, qualifying and the race the minimum starting tyre pressures, as set out in the Pirelli Preview for each event, will always be checked before the wheels are fitted to the car.”
“These checks will only be carried out on new tyres or used tyres from a previous session, they must be done in the presence of, and be verified by, your designated Pirelli engineer.”
“Once set, no air may be released from the tyres but air may be added. In addition, if a set of tyres is used more than once in any session there will be no requirement to reset the pressures to the minimum starting pressure.
“On the grid the starting pressures will be checked before the wheels are fitted to the car. These checks must be carried out in the presence of, and be verified by, a scrutineer, an FIA delegate or your designated Pirelli engineer. Once set no air may be released from the tyres but air may be added.”
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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