Crain News Service report
YEONGAM, South Korea (Oct. 7, 2013) — Former Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso on Oct. 5 put Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. back in the F1 headlines, after questioning the quality of the Italian company's race tires.
The Ferrari driver told reporters in South Korea the tires "will not do 5 kilometers" — not even a single lap — around the Yeongam race track without wearing out.
"We have to be honest," Mr. Alonso said in the report. "The quality of the tires is very on the limit."
He also has criticized throughout the Grand Prix season the "marbles" that he claimed are shed by the heavily degrading Pirelli tires, saying it creates a "two meters (wide) racing line."
Mr. Alonso insisted he is not blaming the tires for Ferrari's lack of pace. "I'm sure with a better tire the others can push more as well," he said. "The deficit we have is the same with any tire, but at least you could drive."
Pirelli motorsports boss Paul Hembery was quoted by the BBC as saying Mr. Alonso's comments are "disappointing" and "below the standards you would expect from such a champion."
"I can only suggest he goes to ask the soon-to-be four time champion [Sebastian Vettel] how to get the best from the same tires," Mr. Hembery added.
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This report appeared on autoweek.com, the website of Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.