Jan. 23 – Pirelli presented at the start of the 2013 Formula One with a completely revolutionized P Zero range from dry and wet, in accordance with the Team’s new strategy and in line with FIA rules. The new F1 Pirelli tires, designed specifically for this season and produced in Turkey, cover all aspects of construction: the compounds, which became softer; and the crown, which has reinforced, less rigid structures. “The 2013 revolution follows the one already carried out by Pirelli last year. The objective is to propose new challenges to the drivers and zero out the knowledge accumulated by the Team during the previous season. The accumulation of information and experience after last year’s GP led to a spectacular start with a record of seven different winners in the first seven races, but in the second half of the season the competition was less eventful and often pit stops were reduced to just one. This is a phenomenon we have observed both in 2011 and last year, and it has disappointed many fans and prompted some teams to ask us to develop new solutions that can further animate the races next season. The 2013 solution is to better chances to overtake opponents and 2-3 stops in each race,” said Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director. The development of the P Zero and Cinturato Pirelli 2013 engaged researchers in the past season with thousands of computer simulations, carried out using sophisticated computer programs developed by engineers. The simulations, preceded by laboratory tests on the compounds, were supplemented with the data collected in the Grand Prix of the season and on 7000 km of track, gathered during the five private tests conducted by Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas Di Grassi on the Renault R30. The Pirelli tests were conducted in Jerez, Spa, Barcelona (two sessions) and on the Paul Ricard track (for wet tires). The debut of the 2013 Pirelli range will take place during the Jerez winter testing, early February.
